Tyre situation leaves Domenicali concerned

Stefano Domenicali has urged Pirelli to improve the durability of its 2011 tyres.

Despite recently shielding the Italian marque from the barrage of criticism, the Ferrari team boss admitted he is concerned about races beginning to unfold this season with multiple pitstops per driver.

"In the first race simulation in Barcelona, to achieve the best pace, we stopped four times," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"On Sunday (in Melbourne) there will be at least three, because when the performance drops, it is useless to leave a driver on the track without pace," added Domenicali.

He urged Pirelli to develop its 2011 product.

"We suggested that tyres are made with a greater degradation in respect to 2010," said Domenicali. "With Bridgestone you could almost drive a grand prix without stopping.

"But imagine the race here with so much traffic in the pits for 72 stops in 58 laps ... I am concerned," he admitted.

Further concerns were being raised in Melbourne on Friday after a Pirelli tyre fitted to Sebastian Vettel’s car featured significant damage, but Red Bull team boss Christian Horner explained that the German had struck some debris.

Toro Rosso’s Jaime Alguersuari insisted he didn’t think anyone in F1 is "afraid" because of the Pirelli situation.

"There are many unknowns, many uncertainties, but it’s the same for everyone," he told Marca sports daily.

Alguersuari said that "Every time you are on the track you understand more how they work".

"Sometimes they give you something you didn’t expect, but every time you get more accustomed - us (drivers) and the team - to know how to set up the car better," he added.