F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Pirelli's Isola opposed to complete tyre freedom in F1

Pirelli is not keen on the concept to fully liberalise the way teams use tyres in Formula 1.

Currently, there are tight restrictions on how teams can select and race the compounds brought to races by Pirelli.

But F1 legend and Renault advisor Alain Prost believes that awarding teams and drivers complete freedom in choosing compounds would likely be an easy way to spice up the action.

Pirelli F1 chief Mario Isola disagrees with Prost's approach however.

"If you just picked the hardest tyre, you could maybe do the whole race without stopping," he told Auto Motor und Sport.

"And if that is possible, most would head in that direction."

And he also rejected Prost's idea that drivers be able to make up a tyre 'set' from multiple compounds, an approach which prevailed in the 1980s.

"This might work on a GT car, but Formula 1 cars are too sensitive," Isola insisted.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.

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