Pirelli defends increased F1 tyre pressure monitoring

Amid suspicions that some teams had been using tricks to get around restrictions on tyre pressures, the FIA asked them to log all their tyre pressure data, starting with the Monaco Grand Prix.

The data is sent to the FIA's Standard Data Recorder over standard CAN (Control Area Network) cable system for analysis.

Several teams have voices their unhappiness about the high tyre pressure limits imposed for this year.

"It is disappointing that we are having to do this," Renault's technical director Bob Bell told Motorsport.com last month about the situation.

"I am sure we would all rather be back as we were before with much more relaxed tyre pressures that were more in line with getting maximum performance from the tyres and not having to go through all this."

But Pirelli chairman Marco Tronchetti Provera insists the expanded monitoring is beneficial for the sport.

"We give limits. If the limits are respected, it's up to the teams to play their own game the way they want," said Provera.

"What we have achieved lately is to add transparency on pressure and camber also during the race, because the situation is changing continuously, which makes everybody safer.

"We provide a range. Within this range everybody can fix his car as he wants. That's our duty, but to deliver we need the proper information."

Provera said the Italian manufacturer was now happy with the way the pressures were being monitored.

"I think it has improved a lot. We can always do better. We need to continue to analyse what can be done together, but I think there is the right cooperation with the FIA and FOM, so now we are comfortable."

Additional reporting by Jonathan Noble