JANUARY 18, 2015

Pirelli open to 70s-style wide tyres for F1

Pirelli is open to supplying bigger tyres to help spice up formula one.

Pirelli is open to supplying bigger tyres to help spice up formula one.

A report by Italy's Autosprint said it is often argued that the sport would be more exciting for spectators if the cars were equipped with big 70s-style rear tyres.

The change could be part of a major revamp for the 2017 season, with Bernie Ecclestone also pushing hard for the V6s of today to be replaced by loud, 1000 horse power engines.

Regarding the possibility of wider rear tyres, meanwhile, Pirelli's Paul Hembery said: "We had had talks with (the FIA's) Charlie (Whiting) as we have always been open to meeting the needs of the sport.

"We just need a little notice," he is quoted as saying.

"It will be very difficult to completely redesign the tyre for 2016, so it is more realistic to think about 2017.

"This is also a logical consequence of our contractual terms, as our deal will expire at the end of 2016," Hembery added.

(GMM)