Ferrari hopes Pirelli swerves hard tyre for Silverstone

Felipe Massa has admitted he is worried Ferrari will struggle if the team has to use Pirelli’s hard tyres.

The Italian team, which in Valencia last weekend looked to have taken over from McLaren as Red Bull’s nearest challenger, has struggled on the hard compound at other races in 2011.

"If we have it (the hard tyre), it can be a problem," Brazilian driver Massa is quoted by Globo Esporte. "Not only for us but also for others, possibly excluding Red Bull and McLaren."

The Brazilian report said team boss Stefano Domenicali has also stated that Ferrari wants Pirelli to bring the soft and medium compounds to Silverstone, and that the tyre supplier is poised to make its decision.

Pirelli vowed to stay neutral.

"If it is very cold, you will not want to have the very hard compounds," insisted motor sport director Paul Hembery. "It’s something to consider."