Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Rubber News
  • European Rubber Journal
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • Current Issue
  • News
    • OPINION
    • BUSINESS/FINANCIAL
    • COMMERCIAL TIRE
    • GOVERNMENT & LAW
    • Humanitarian Award
    • RETAIL TIRES
    • SERVICE ZONE
    • TIRE MAKERS
    • Best Places to Work
    • RUSSIA WAR IN UKRAINE
  • Aligning with ADAS
  • Data
    • DATA STORE
  • Custom
    • SPONSORED CONTENT
  • Events
    • ASK THE EXPERT
    • LIVESTREAMS
    • WEBINARS
    • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
  • Resources
    • DIRECTORY
    • CLASSIFIEDS
    • SHOP FLOOR
    • AWARDS
    • BALANCING
    • DEMOUNTING
    • SAFETY
    • TIRE REPAIR
    • TPMS
    • TRAINING
    • VEHICLE LIFTING
    • WHEEL TORQUE
    • Best Places to Work
  • ADVERTISE
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
October 14, 2020 09:00 AM

FIA to trim F1 downforce to help Pirelli's 2022 tire development

Tire Business Staff
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    SPA, Belgium — The sanctioning body for the international Formula 1 racing series is planning to modify the rules governing the design of F1 race cars for 2021 to reduce downforce, in part to allow tire supplier Pirelli Motorsports to continue using the 2020-spec tire next year.

    The Federation International de l'Automobile (FIA) said the move is necessary because the design regulations as written would allow teams to keep increasing downforce, which would lead to increasing cornering speeds and thus increased dynamic load on the tires.

    Originally, Pirelli was supposed to introduce an 18-inch rim diameter race tire for F1 next year, but the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a four-month delay to the start of the current F1 season and the decision by the FIA to postpone the shift to new car and tire regulations until 2022.

    • This article appears in the Oct. 12 print edition of Tire Business.

    As such, Pirelli will supply teams in 2021 with a tire based on the one being used this year, thus sparing the Italian tire company the additional expense of having to develop a new 13-inch tire for one season, while at the same time developing the 18-inch version for 2022.

    The decision was disclosed recently by Nikolas Tombazis, the head of single- seater technical matters for the FIA, who outlined three changes set to decrease aerodynamic loads by about 10% for next year.

    "We feel that downforce has increased a bit too much," Mr. Tombazis said, adding that the goal was for downforce levels to end up "somewhere between that of last year and this year."

    The FIA's decision comes in the wake of a series of tire failures at the British Grand Prix in early August, including one on winner Lewis Hamilton's car on the final lap.

    Related Article
    McLaren picks Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R 'track tire' for limited-edition 765LT
    Pirelli among founders of CFO taskforce for sustainable development
    Pandemic wreaks havoc with 2020 tire co. financials, clouds outlook
    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Do you have an opinion about this story? Do you have some thoughts you'd like to share with our readers? Tire Business would love to hear from you. Email your letter to Editor Don Detore at [email protected].

    Most Popular
    1
    Hankook opens largest tire testing facility in Asia
    2
    Heintschel converts to Marangoni Ringtread process
    3
    Value tire maker Sailun gets aggressive in U.S. market
    4
    4 Wheel Parts opens first retail location in N.J.
    5
    JK Tyre: fiscal '22 earnings drop despite higher sales
    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Newsletter Center

    Staying current is easy with Tire Business delivered straight to your inbox.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Subscribe to Tire Business

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • RSS

    Our Mission

    Tire Business is an award-winning publication dedicated to providing the latest news, data and insights into the tire and automotive service industries.

    Reader Services
    • Staff
    • About Us
    • Site Map
    • Industry Sites
    • Order Reprints
    • Customer Service: 877-320-1716
    Partner Sites
    • Rubber News
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Automotive News
    • Plastics News
    • Urethanes Technology
    RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Media Guide
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Classified Rates
    • Digital Edition
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    Copyright © 1996-2022. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • OPINION
      • BUSINESS/FINANCIAL
      • COMMERCIAL TIRE
      • GOVERNMENT & LAW
      • Humanitarian Award
      • RETAIL TIRES
      • SERVICE ZONE
      • TIRE MAKERS
      • Best Places to Work
      • RUSSIA WAR IN UKRAINE
    • Aligning with ADAS
    • Data
      • DATA STORE
    • Custom
      • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • Events
      • ASK THE EXPERT
      • LIVESTREAMS
      • WEBINARS
      • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
    • Resources
      • DIRECTORY
      • CLASSIFIEDS
      • SHOP FLOOR
        • BALANCING
        • DEMOUNTING
        • SAFETY
        • TIRE REPAIR
        • TPMS
        • TRAINING
        • VEHICLE LIFTING
        • WHEEL TORQUE
      • AWARDS
        • Best Places to Work
    • ADVERTISE
    • DIGITAL EDITION