F1: Pirelli faces key future rules meeting

Pirelli faces a key meeting with Formula 1's hierarchy next week at which it hopes to be given a clear mandate for tires' role in the new rules era.

Pirelli chairman Marco Tronchetti Provera and motorsport director Paul Hembery are to discuss plans for its 2017-19 deal with F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone, FIA president Jean Todt and a number of drivers in Milan on Feb. 2.

With the technical regulations still to be determined – a meeting involving FIA technical director Charlie Whiting and his counterparts from the F1 teams takes place on Friday on that subject – at present there is no clear plan for what role the tires should play.

Drivers are demanding tires that allow them to push more and degrade less. Pirelli's stance is that it is more than willing to provide whatever F1 demands but needs clear guidelines.

"Pirelli welcomes any tire regulation review, the drivers' comments, together with the requirements of the promoter, the FIA and the teams," said Hembery. "If they get together and agree on what they want from us, then we can only be happy with that.

"We welcome that with open arms because it is very important you know what the target is you are aiming for. But we need to have a very clear target letter, agreed by all the interested parties, to describe what it is the sport does want from us going forward."

Agreeing on a testing provision is crucial for Pirelli. Hembery has confirmed there are a number of drivers who are sympathetic and willing to help, but unable to do so as Pirelli's hands are tied by the regulations.

"I know it sounds like we are beating a drum, but people need to understand we're prohibited from running with any historical Formula 1 car, which has impeded us from doing our work," Hembery explained. "We've had some drivers suggest we get a 2012 V8 and run around with that as it's not relevant to today's technology and so surely good enough, to give us a good baseline, for the downforce levels.

"The problem is we can't do that. We're prohibited from that, which is a great shame. The sport has missed an opportunity there to assist us.

"The sport needs to give us the tools and the ability to go testing to be able to deliver what they are asking. It would be the same for any other tire company."

Originally on Autosport.com