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September 4, 2015

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Pirelli blames tire blowouts at Spa on track debris

An 鈥渆xceptional combined effect鈥 of track debris and prolonged usage caused Sebastian Vettel and Nico Rosberg鈥檚 high-speed tire blowouts at last month鈥檚 Belgian Grand Prix, Formula One supplier Pirelli said yesterday.

鈥淭he events at Spa can ... be put down to external factors, linked with the prolonged use of the tires on one of the most severe tracks of the championship,鈥 it said in a statement at the Italian Grand Prix.

The company proposed, with the governing International Automobile Federation, a study 鈥渢o optimize the way in which circuits are cleaned鈥.

The FIA said it was satisfied with the thoroughness of the investigation, and Pirelli鈥檚 conclusions, and was willing to consider any further safety recommendations.

Drivers said separately that teams had been advised about tire pressures and cambers for Monza, the fastest circuit on the calendar where cars hit speeds in excess of 360kph.

Rosberg told reporters he was confident he would have a safe car this weekend, but others remained sceptical.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 think anyone is happy with the fact that it鈥檚 a cut. Seb didn鈥檛 go off track, there are kerbs and you can use them,鈥 Lotus鈥檚 French driver Romain Grosjean said moments before the statement was issued.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 a good explanation. On the other hand, it鈥檚 very hard for Pirelli to replicate what we are asking of the tires when they don鈥檛 have a current car and some testing to develop their tires.

鈥淲e just need to find a way that the tires don鈥檛 go off (wear excessively)鈥.

Pirelli said microscopic analysis on tires used at Spa found no structural problem. That finding was backed up by further laboratory tests.


 

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