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Pirelli denies shortage of tyres in pre-season testing

Pirelli has dismissed rumors of a tyre shortage in pre-season testing that restricted the running of some teams in Barcelona.

The Italian manufacturer allocated 40 sets of slick tyres to each team to cover the two weeks of pre-season testing, a quota that has been in place since 2016 when the FIA reduced the number of pre-season tests from three to two.

Pirelli F1 boss Mario Isola underlined the surplus of mileage achieved by teams this year testing relative to 2018 and 2017, thanks in no small part to the near perfect weather conditions that prevailed at the Circuit de Catalunya during the eight days of testing.

Fastest and farthest: A summary of pre-season testing in Barcelona

"I heard some comments, rumours about some teams not happy about the number of sets available for testing," said Isola.

"It was reduced because the number of test days were reduced. In proportion, it’s the same number of sets they’ve had for the last 10 years, probably.

"Obviously this year with these good weather conditions and with the cars that are very reliable, all the teams had the opportunity to run a lot more than in the past.

"But I don’t think that the number of sets is not enough."

This year, F1's ten teams - and despite Williams missing two and a half days of testing - racked up an aggregate 25,279 miles at Barcelona, approximately 2,000 more than in 2018.

But mileage isn't the only factor that determines how teams stretch their tyre use, with the relative amount of race and qualifying simulations also an element of tyre management.

"They started the [second] test with 42-50 sets for four days," added Isola.

"Consider that they are also running a lot of race simulations, and you run a lot of kilometres with the same sets of tyres.

"Obviously you need a higher number of sets when you make a qualifying simulation. [But] I feel they are not running out of sets of tyres, honestly."

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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.