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Pirelli's tyre change in limbo

OTTAWA, Canada - Pirelli's planned changes to its controversial tyres for Canada and beyond are now under a dark cloud.

Spanish sports daily Marca's Marco Canseco said the FIA has hit back by insisting that mid-season changes will be allowed only for safety reasons. Pirelli's Paul Hembery announced last week that the planned changes, for Montreal and beyond, were because "the number of pit stops was too high" so far in 2013.

The FIA's opposite view is enshrined in the technical regulations.

HITTING BACK

At the same time, Hembery hit out at teams such as Red Bull and Mercedes who have "used the media" to pile the pressure on Pirelli.

"What has changed compared to the past two years," Hembery told German newspaper Bild am Sonntag, "is that people have used the media in order to get a benefit for themselves.

"The people who criticise make the headlines," he added, "but we have been contacted by many people who are asking us not to give in to the pressure."

So after Red Bull and Mercedes complained loudly about the changes, other teams like Lotus, Ferrari and Force India - whose cars work well with the existing 2013 tyres - are hitting back just as strongly.

Lotus team owner Gerard Lopez told Welt am Sonntag newspaper that it is "stupid that changes can be made that punish the clever and creative teams whilst rewarding the losers".

SPOILT SPORTS

Force India driver Paul di Resta told Speed Week: "Where is the sport in that?" I don't know exactly why Pirelli is making changes but I've been told that everything is fair.

"I suspect that the changes will hurt us, Ferrari and Lotus a little bit more than the others.

"We invested a lot of time in the winter to get these tyres working, so of course these changes are a bit frustrating."

Di Resta said he doubts Pirelli can justify the changes on the grounds of safety, as is required by the regulations.

"I don't think they (the tyres) are dangerous," he insisted. "People have been getting excited about the last race, but we had no problems in the race.

"I think most of the tyre failures are down to driving over debris."

Stay with Wheels24 for the 2013 Formula 1 season – fresh reports every day.
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