Sainz on F1 tyre trial: ‘Interesting in qualifying, boring in practice’

Carlos Sainz judged F1’s Alternative Tyre Allocation trialed in Hungary as an interesting proposition for qualifying, but a “boring and dull” rule for the rest of the weekend.

The format put together by F1 and Pirelli as part of the sport's efforts towards sustainability and limiting waste saw each driver receive 11 sets of tyres instead of 13 for the entire event: 3 sets of the Hard tyre, 4 sets of Mediums, and 4 sets of the Soft rubber.

The rule, which will be trialed again at Monza in September, also calls for drivers to use Hards in Q1, Mediums in Q2 and Softs in Q3.

Lewis Hamilton felt that the format deprived drivers and fans of track time, with Sainz expressing a similar view.

"I find it [the new tyre allocation] interesting for qualifying," said the Ferrari driver. "For the rest of the weekend, very dull and very boring.

"We arrive here on a Wednesday to prepare everything and then on Friday you spend more time in the garage than running because we have no tyres.

• Read also: Hamilton hits out at tyre rule 'taking track time away from fans'

"So why even bother doing two one hour practice sessions if you don’t have tyres to run?

"Or why even having Friday, if you have no tyres to run on them, to learn from the car, the track and put on a show for the fans.

"So definitely something needs reviewing, either the format or the tyre allocation. The two at the same time, it’s like you’re not doing one thing or the other."

When pointed out that the format catered to Formula 1's sustainability efforts, Sainz said: "It could be for sustainability, but at the same time, there are four sets of inters, three sets of wets that we don’t even touch in the whole weekend sometimes.

"Those are seven tyres times 20 teams. There are other things also to look at. Also, if you want cars to run for the fans, I think it’s something you need to put into consideration."

Hamilton also argued that "there are a lot of tyres that Pirelli throw away after every weekend".

"Maybe they should look at something like that rather than taking time on track away from the fans," said the Mercedes driver.

However, Pirelli motorsport boss rebutted the points expressed by the two drivers regarding the inventory management of the supplier's Wet and Intermediate tyres.

"For the European events, we keep the tyres fitted on rims, and we carry over the tyres that are new," he told Autosport. "So we supply the teams with the same sets [as previous races].

"For overseas events, it is more complicated because the rims have to travel with the teams, while the tyres have to go with us for customs reasons."