F1 | FIA approves new tyre compounds and regulation for the first Sprint Qualifying in Silverstone
The World Motor Sport Council has approved the new 2021 regulations for the cars in view of the Sprint Qualifying, and Pirelli’s new compounds.
Next weekend will finally be the time for the long-awaited format of the Sprint Qualifying, at Mercedes' home on the Silverstone circuit in England.
The WMSC has also given the green light to the changes that will have to be implemented in this 2021 F1 season, to adapt the cars to the new Sprint format, according to Racefans.net.
Pirelli, the official tyre supplier for Formula 1, has made available the new compounds, that will be used for the tenth round of the calendar, already last weekend, during free practice on the Austrian soil.
The main purpose for Pirelli is “to further improve the robustness of the tyres”.
A matter certainly linked to the events that took place in Baku, where Max Verstappen and Lance Stroll's tyres burst, due to wear. Luckily, everyone came out unscathed.
The agreement on the new regulations has been signed between the FIA and all 10 teams, although the rules said Michael Masi "could change to make positive changes and improvements".
“We’ve had numerous meetings involving all the teams’ sporting directors, ourselves with the FIA and obviously F1 in developing, refining, leaving things for a week, letting everyone have another re-read and finding little bits and pieces,” the Formula 1 Race Director stated.
“Everyone, to be fair, has a completely open mind that there may be things crop up that no one has thought of, any of us.” he added.
“But also an open mind that after the first event, let’s happily review internally and see what did work, what didn’t work, other areas that need to be refined.”
The new regulations are a significant departure for Formula 1, said Masi: “It is something new for all of us, particularly in an F1 capacity.”
“The regulations traditionally have been structured in a very specific format and way around a grand prix taking place without Sprint Qualifying happening.”
“Everyone is quite open and has said that we all just need to work together and see what pops up, anything that we haven’t considered, as much as everyone has read them inside out,” he concluded.
