Pirelli has confirmed that the development rear tyres it tested in Montreal earlier in the season will be supplied at this weekend's German Grand Prix, with the manufacturer reacting swiftly to the succession of blow-outs suffered at Silverstone.
The new tyres, fitted with Kevlar belts as opposed to steel, will be used throughout the Nürburgring weekend in a bid to avoid the failures witnessed at the British Grand Prix, before a new range, uniting the structures used throughout the 2012 campaign and the compounds from 2013, is introduced from the Hungarian Grand Prix onwards.
"What happened at Silverstone was completely unexpected and it was the first time that anything like this has ever occurred in more than a century of Pirelli in motorsport," explained Pirelli Motorsport Director Paul Hembery. "These incidents, which have upset us greatly, have stressed the urgency of the changes that we already suggested – which will be introduced during free practice in Germany on Friday."
The Kevlar-belted tyres had originally been planned for introduction at Silverstone in the wake of delaminations in Bahrain and Spain, but Ferrari, Lotus and Force India opposed. On Monday, the FIA confirmed planned rule changes which give Pirelli the right to make changes without the need for unanimous consent amongst the teams.
Meanwhile, Pirelli's post-race investigations have uncovered four key factors leading to the Silverstone failures, with the company arguing that the swapping of left and rear tyres, low pressures, extreme camber angles and sharp kerb edges all played a part.
For the German Grand Prix, asymmetrical tyres will still be in use, with tyre-swapping due to be prohibited for the duration of the event. However, from Hungary, the new range will feature symmetrical tyres, meaning it will no longer pose a problem.
Pirelli has also asked governing body the FIA to ensure the strict regulation of tyre pressures and camber angles for the remainder of the season, with the company adamant that its products are safe if operated within the recommended windows.
The upcoming Young Driver test at Silverstone and two additional three-day tests, at which the running of 2013 machinery has been sanctioned by the FIA, will serve as extra track time for Pirelli to fine-tune its changes before the Hungarian Grand Prix.
