Todt, Ecclestone, Gascoyne hail ’brave’ Pirelli

Mike Gascoyne has hailed Pirelli’s bravery in taking up the challenge of improving the formula one show.

Bernie Ecclestone confirmed in Turkey that he specifically asked the sport’s new official supplier to make tyres in 2011 "that wouldn’t last for more than a third of the race".

"I am so happy with Pirelli and I thank them. They’ve done a super job," added the F1 chief executive after yet another exciting grand prix.

Indeed, on this matter, there is rare harmony between Ecclestone and FIA president Jean Todt.

"I must welcome Pirelli because they have made very brave decisions," the Frenchman said last weekend.

"I have followed the first races on TV, including practice and qualifying, and I have found it rather exciting. The return of KERS, the moving wing and the new tyres have really helped to improve the show," Todt is quoted as saying by La Stampa newspaper.

Team Lotus’ technical boss Gascoyne, meanwhile, said the move from Bridgestone to Pirelli for 2011 has been more effective than more than 20 years of constant changes to the regulations.

"We change the tyre supplier and suddenly we have fantastic racing," he wrote in a column for the Telegraph.

Gascoyne acknowledged that Pirelli’s decision to create tyres that feature extreme degradation was a risk.

"Pirelli are to be applauded for the boldness in going down the route they have," said the Briton.

"We will have occasions now where a driver in the lead will lose the race because of their tyres and the last thing any tyre manufacturer in F1 wants is for a driver to get out of the car and say the tyres were useless and that is why they lost the race.

"To be producing tyres that add to the show is a ballsy approach and that is of huge credit to Pirelli," added Gascoyne.