F1 chiefs want Pirelli to keep approach

After the criticisms that Pirelli faced in the wake of its Belgian Grand Prix tyre failures, the Italian tyre company has already been publicly backed by the FIA over its products.

Now, Formula One Management, the company that is run by Bernie Ecclestone, has issued a statement declaring Pirelli's approach as the right one for F1.

"Pirelli has been a first class partner of Formula 1 during the five seasons in which it has been the Official Supplier of Tyres to the FIA Formula 1 World Championship and we continue to have full confidence in the safety, quality and suitability of its tyres," said the statement.

"Within the constraints of safety considerations, which are always paramount, Formula One encourages Pirelli to provide tyre compounds with performance limitations because tyre degradation contributes to the challenge and entertainment of a Formula 1 race.

"When doing so, Pirelli provides strong guidance to competitors about any performance limitations of the tyres supplied. Competitors should heed Pirelli's expert advice when setting their race strategy and tactics, and if they do not, it is at their own risk.

"We are entirely satisfied that Pirelli was not at fault for any tyre-related incidents during the 2015 Formula 1 Shell Belgian Grand Prix."

Pirelli offer

The FOM statement also revealed that Pirelli had offered to end its current approach of delivering high-degrading tyres, and instead produce a product that would last a whole weekend.

It added: "Pirelli has offered to provide to each car a single set of tyres to last for an entire event. While we know that they would be very capable of it, a race with no pitstops would be less exciting."