Hamilton points the finger at Pirelli for tyre blistering issues

Lewis Hamilton believes Pirelli should have opted for its more durable thin tread tyres to the Red Bull Ring to prevent blistering issues that impacted many runners in the Austrian Grand Prix.

Hamilton and Mercedes were among those caught out by Sunday's high track temperatures and increased degradation that forced a change of strategy, with several drivers making a second stop to take on fresh rubber in order to reach the end of the race.

In hindsight, the British driver - who retired from the event following a fuel pressure issue -believes Pirelli should have chosen to supply the field with its thinner Barcelona rubber, also used at Paul Ricard and which will be reintroduced next weekend at Silverstone.

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"They should’ve brought the other tyre here, the same tyres we had in the last race," Hamilton said.

"It’s not unusual [to see tyres blistering]. When you make the wrong call, that’s what happens.

"They were supposed to bring the other tyre this weekend. It doesn’t really make a difference to my weekend anyway."

In addition to forcing alternative strategies on teams, Hamilton also contended that high degradation levels kept him from pushing, which in turn deprived the fans from witnessing a good race, although there was plenty of thrill to go around on Sunday.

"I was trying to overtake, and that’s probably the problem with these tyres is you can’t stay in a race," he explained.

"I had the pace to put on a race and stay with them and be in the fight for the rest of the race and then the tyres don’t make it.

"In that circumstance, that’s robbed the fans of seeing more racing. But that is just the way it is.

"These tyres aren’t good enough for us to be able to really race," he concluded.

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