Pirelli swerves Ferrari’s call for softer tyres

Italian tyre supplier Pirelli has shown it does not favour Ferrari by deciding to take its hardest compound to Silverstone next week.

Team boss Stefano Domenicali as well as Ferrari driver Felipe Massa had openly admitted they hoped Pirelli would swerve the hardest tyre because the Italia 150 car has struggled on it elsewhere this season.

But having originally announced a month ago the hard/soft combination for the British grand prix, Pirelli re-confirmed that decision on Wednesday.

"Silverstone is one of the quickest tracks of the year, requiring the use of the hard tyre to cope with the sustained high speeds that are a characteristic of the British circuit," the marque said in a media document.

Said motor sport director Paul Hembery: "We are confirming the decision we took a few weeks ago, after once more consulting all the teams".

Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport quotes him adding: "Silverstone is a big challenge for us and probably one of the hardest circuits that we face during the year."

Hembery told ANSA news agency: "Ferrari should not be unhappy, as after Barcelona their engineers understood the problems they have had."

Commented Massa’s Ferrari teammate Fernando Alonso: "The tyre choice is the same for everyone and there’s no point discussing if the pair of compounds chosen is more suited to one team or another."