F1 tyre situation 'fundamentally wrong' - Lauda
Niki Lauda insists that it's bad for fans when there are so many pitstops, but Paul Hembery says that fans think the racing is more exciting now
Mar.19 (GMM) Niki Lauda has slammed the tyre situation in Formula One, accusing Pirelli and the FIA of confusing the fans.
"The situation with the tyres is absolutely stupid," the forthright triple world champion, broadcaster and Mercedes team chairman and shareholder said.
"Artificially creating more and more pitstops is wrong," Lauda told German newspaper Bild.
"Pirelli can't really help it as they are only doing what the FIA ordered them to do, but 90 per cent of the time no one understands what is happening in the races now."
Lauda said the current situation, with the tyres more influential than ever before, is confusing for the fans.
"My advantage is that I can ask our (Mercedes) engineers. The fans cannot. But even our people are confused.
"When the tyres are so soft, it's bad for Formula One. The fans don't understand if there are more than two pitstops. (For F1) it's a fundamentally wrong path."
Pirelli's Paul Hembery hit back: "Many fans have told us they think the racing is more exciting now."
Share Or Save This Story
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
Pirelli chief calls for radical F1 overhaul
Who belongs on F1's Mount Rushmore? Pick your four greatest drivers
Where will Kevin Magnussen rank among the Project 91 NASCAR drivers?
Kimi Raikkonen goes viral with blunt two-word response to throwback F1 post
George Russell "still not there" as Mercedes pressure builds after Dutch GP, says former F1 driver
Lando Norris: I don't have a car to fight for the F1 title
Why Lando Norris was “surprised” to claim Dutch GP pole position
Ross Chastain on issue that left him with last-place finish and ended Chase hopes
Kyle Kirkwood: Markham crash “flipped a switch” before Freedom 250 win
Complete NASCAR Cup points standings after New Hampshire 2026
Complete IndyCar championship standings after 2026 Freedom 250 Grand Prix
Lando Norris made his own life difficult again - but his recovery was stunning in Zandvoort's swansong
Why Lando Norris was “surprised” to claim Dutch GP pole position
What we learned from the 2026 F1 Dutch GP sprint race and qualifying
Why Williams problems are worse than previously known
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments