The Formula 1 teams have unanimously rejected the introduction of the 2020 F1 tyres. All of the Formula 1 cars will, therefore, be wearing next season the same compounds with which they competed in 2019.

Although the decision has not come as a surprise, it is remarkable how every single team has been on board with it. After a meeting including all of the Scuderias of Formula 1, it was decided that they didn’t like the new tyre specifications and agreed to keep the current compounds. It is strange that teams such as Haas, which has suffered numerous problems with the temperature and performance of its tyres during 2019, have preferred to keep the same ones for next year rather than trying out the new ones. 

The truth is that the new compounds have not convinced anybody from day one. So much so that right from the very first trials at the Circuit of the Americas during the USA GP of 2019, they were heavily criticised. On that occasion, back in the month of November, drivers had already expressed their disappointment. No one could see any of the forecasted performance improvements. 

In the face of this resounding failure, the Italian manufacturer alleged problems had to do with the low weather temperatures and the configuration of the vehicles. In all truth, Pirelli had been hoping for better and warmer weather conditions during the trials, which would have, in theory, improved the performance of their product. 

Abu Dhabi, the definitive test for 2020 F1 Tyres

After what happened in the USA, teams were asked to carry out further tests after the Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2019, the last appointment in the season’s calendar. After that second trial, the FIA would make a decision based on the feedback from the teams. The tests, which were carried out at the Yas Marina circuit, confirmed Pirelli’s worst fears.

The verdict was unequivocal and unanimous against the use of the new compounds. Despite the 2019 tyres posing numerous difficulties and while some of the teams were unable to find the optimal performance window, they all rather repeat with the old models than risk using the new ones. As the saying goes: “It is better the devil you know”. 

Teams pressure FIA to make a decision 

Given the circumstances, the FIA has had no choice but to announce they were suspending the introduction of the new tyres on trial. The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile has thanked both the tyre manufacturer and the teams for their efforts in improving the compounds, but it is obvious that this has been a tremendous failure for Pirelli. 

Along the same lines, the FIA has also declared that this has been an invaluable experience which will serve as a basis for all future tyre development. Not in vain, all of the data gathered so far will be used in the design of the 18” tyres which are to be introduced in 2021, and whose first tests are scheduled to begin next February in Jerez, Spain with Ferrari. 

Pirelli, for their part, has declared that several, unspecified factors have motivated the decision. One positive outcome that Pirelli has put forward is that teams won’t need to modify the designs of their 2020 vehicles and that using this year’s tyres will give some sort of stability. Perhaps this is a way of shifting the blame towards the teams. 

“If we keep the current design we will only be able to increase the pressure of the tyres but we will probably suffer more degradation and overheating” – declared Mario Isola, director of Pirelli’s competition division. 

The greatest problems with the current tyres that Pirelli engineers have been trying to solve are precisely their high degradation and overheating. The latest is exacerbated when a car receives all of the dirty air from the vehicle in front of him. As a result, two cars cannot drive very close to each other, which limits their ability to battle. Also, the modifications were aimed at widening their optimum performance window. 

Images of 2020 F1 Tyres: FIA.