Mercedes would be "foolish" not to expect repeat of tyre issues
Mercedes would be "foolish" to not expect a repeat of the tyre blistering issues seen last Sunday at Silverstone that led to its first defeat of the Formula 1 season.

After dominating in qualifying for the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix, Mercedes struggled with severe blistering on its rear tyres through the race amid high track temperatures.
Both Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas reported recurring issues through the race as they suffered on the softer compound tyres supplied by Pirelli for the second Silverstone race.
It allowed Max Verstappen to snatch victory for Red Bull thanks to superior tyre management, ending Mercedes' streak of wins to start the 2020 campaign.
Mercedes was left eager to learn from the problems ahead of this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix, where a high track temperature is expected to make tyre management a challenge once again.
Speaking in Mercedes' post-race debrief video, trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin said it could not rule out a repeat of the same blistering problem in Spain.
"I think we'd be foolish to say that we are not going to see this problem again and we are not going to see it in Spain," Shovlin said.
"We need to be looking at solutions and if we can make good progress this week [to] try and understand exactly the nature of our problem and that's why were we so much worse than the others, then I'd like to think we can get on top of it for Spain.
"But there's no doubt Spain is going to be tough. Spa after Spain, that's another very high-energy circuit where you can get blistering.
"Our focus in terms of performance is all about how can we get the tyres cooler, how can we avoid this problem.
"Hopefully we won't see it again, but I think Spain will be a good test of whether we have made the progress that we need to."
Read Also:
Shovlin explained how the high temperatures at Silverstone made it difficult for Hamilton and Bottas to keep the rear tyres cool, noting that it was a new issue not encountered by the team so far this season.
"The issue on the rear, that's one of temperature," Shovlin said.
"We were getting the centre of the tyre very hot. The issue there is, when it gets hot, it starts sliding and it generates more heat, and the pressures go up.
"You end up with a bit of a vicious circle, where you are losing grip and keeping it under control becomes harder and harder as you go through the stint.
"We need to look at how we can improve that issue with the rear, try and understand exactly what was happening because it is the first time we have seen it this year, and just make sure that we have some tools in place to deal with it better when we get to another hot race."
Related video

Previous article
Perez to make Barcelona F1 return after negative COVID test
Next article
Vandoorne returns as McLaren reserve for Spanish GP

About this article
Series | Formula 1 |
Teams | Mercedes |
Author | Luke Smith |
Mercedes would be "foolish" not to expect repeat of tyre issues
Trending
The tricky driver conundrums facing Mercedes in F1 2021
Ahead of the new Formula 1 season, reigning world champions Mercedes will take on challenges both old and new. This also can be said for its driver conundrum which could become key to sustaining its ongoing success...
How Alpine's cure to 2021 F1 rules starts at the front
A new name, new faces and new colours pulls the rebranded Alpine Formula 1 team into a new era while carrying over core elements of its 2020 car. But under the surface there's more than meets the eye with the A521 which hints at how the team will tackle 2021...
Can Mercedes' W12 retain the team's crown?
Replacing Formula 1's fastest car was never going to be an easy feat for Mercedes. Amid the technical rule tweaks to peg back the W12 and its 2021 rivals, the new Mercedes challenger will remain the target to beat
The pointed note that starts Ferrari's Leclerc vs Sainz era
Ferrari is starting its post-Sebastian Vettel age by welcoming Carlos Sainz in alongside Charles Leclerc. But while Sainz has a tough challenge to match his new teammate, Ferrari is also sending a message that previous intra-team spats must end
The mantra Ocon must follow to challenge Alonso at Alpine
OPINION: It's been an uneasy ride for Esteban Ocon since his F1 comeback - and fresh challenges lie in wait as he's joined by double world champion Fernando Alonso in the newly rebranded Alpine team. STUART CODLING sets out a roadmap to success…
Why Haas is willing to sacrifice its 2021 F1 season
Every Formula 1 team is facing the same difficult decision this season: how do you split precious aero development time between the current car and the all-new 2022 project?
The big questions of F1 2021 - Karun Chandhok
After an unprecedented season last year, there are plenty of questions and storylines for the upcoming Formula 1 campaign. Sky Sports F1 pundit Karun Chandhok gives his verdict.
How McLaren F1’s new investors have already made an impact
The deal McLaren concluded with MSP Sports Capital last year which will help the cash-strapped Formula 1 team pay for much-needed infrastructure upgrades, also points toward the future for F1 itself, says GP Racing's Stuart Codling.