Formula 1 title contenders Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen disagree over the findings of Pirelli's investigation into tyre failure at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
After Pirelli committed to an inquiry into the drama, which saw both Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and Red Bull's Verstappen suffer near-identical left-rear tyre failures in very similar places at about 320 kilometres per hour, the Italian manufacturer concluded "there was no production or quality defect on any of the tyres".
Pirelli's findings also rejected "any sign of fatigue or delamination".
Hamilton and Verstappen have weighed in on the findings, the Mercedes driver saying he doesn't think Pirelli is "at fault" and junior rival Verstappen insisting "they have to look at themselves".
The Dutchman added: "We didn't do anything wrong, so they cannot put the blame on us."
On the back of the Baku mayhem and Pirelli's investigation, the FIA has introduced new protocols for tomorrow's French Grand Prix. These include more rigorous checks of both tyre pressure and temperature, even after tyres have been removed from cars.
The implication of the inquest results is that Pirelli thinks some teams have been finding avenues to controlling tyre pressure and temperature that the manufacturer hadn't considered in creating its safety framework.
Hamilton leapt to Pirelli's defence, saying the manufacturer didn't need to undertake the investigation and that there was no need for new protocols.
"Safety is always the priority and for me and my team there have been clear rules and guidelines as to where we have to operate, so I was very surprised to see they had to clarify those. Obviously you can take what you want from that," Hamilton said.
"I am happy they have acknowledged they need to clarify it and what's really important now is how they police it because they have not been policing how the tyres have been used, pressures and temperatures, and we need to be better. It is great they have done a technical directive but we need to see them follow through and be vigilant.
"Whenever there is a failure, they always put the pressure up, so that tells you something; more often than not the tyres are not running at the pressures being asked.
"We didn't have a problem with our tyres. I think they have done a great job with the tyres this year; they are more robust than before."
But Verstappen says Pirelli is to blame because both he and Stroll hadn't bent the rules, therefore leaving the tyres accountable.
"They explained they don't have measuring tools in the race, but we gave them our pressures and they were within the limits they set. If those limits are not correct, there is nothing we can do about it," Verstappen said.
"And also, Aston Martin didn't do anything wrong so they cannot put the blame on us."
While Verstappen's left-rear tyre failed him in Azerbaijan, the 23-year-old, who was cruising to victory until pandemonium erupted with five laps remaining, was delivered a stroke of luck when Hamilton's brakes locked up ahead of turn one of the restart. The seven-time world champion began the restart in second and, as a result of his mishap, plummeted to a 15th-placed finish.
Hamilton and Verstappen will resume their engrossing title battle when lights go out in France tomorrow.
After the opening six rounds of the championship, Verstappen is leading on 105 points and Hamilton is close behind on 101 points.
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!
from WWOS https://wwos.nine.com.au/motorsport/formula-1-news-2021-azerbaijan-grand-prix-max-verstappen-lewis-hamilton-lance-stroll-pirelli/db62a5d0-c5a6-41b1-8291-a71539fa8599
0 Comments