The punctured tyre from Felipe Massa’s Ferrari is seen during Sunday’s British Grand Prix at the Silverstone Race circuit.

DPA/Berlin


Formula One tyre makers Pirelli said Tuesday night they have no intention of causing trouble after indicating that the Silverstone blow-out fiasco could have been prevented by correct use of the rubbers.
“Contrary to the impression that some people have formed, I would like to underline the collaboration and support that we are receiving from the teams, drivers, (ruling body) FIA and (F1 management) FOM,” Pirelli motorsport chief Paul Hembery said in a statement.
“In no way are we intending to create arguments or attack anybody.
“We have taken our responsibilities upon ourselves as our press release indicates. But not having full control over all the elements that impact on the use of the tyres, we need everybody’s contribution. With regard to this, we are receiving the full support of all the parties involved, for which we are very grateful.”
Sunday’s British Grand Prix saw the left rear tyres of Lewis Hamilton, Felipe Massa, Jean-Eric Vergne and Sergio Perez explode, and race director Charlie Whiting said he had toyed with stopping the race for safety reasons.
The incidents were named “unacceptable” by Hamilton and others, and the FIA acted swiftly by allowing Pirelli to conduct in-season testing with 2013 cars and drivers over the next weeks.
Pirelli partly blamed the teams when it named four factors that led to the Silverstone incidents in another statement from Tuesday night:
“Rear tyres that were mounted the wrong way round ... the use of tyre
pressures that were excessively low or in any case lower than those indicated by Pirelli ...  the use of extreme camber angles ...  kerbing that was particularly aggressive on fast corners,” were the reasons given.
Pirelli acknowledged they were partly to blame because they did not outright forbid incorrect mounting of tyres, in which teams used the right hand tyre on the left and vice versa although they have an asymmetric structure.
They said they also asked the FIA to ensure that tyre pressure guidelines are observed, and insisted that the early-season delamination problem has been solved and was no factor at Silverstone.
“Pirelli would also like to underline that the 2013 tyre range does not compromise driver safety in any way if used in the correct manner, and that it meets all the safety standards requested by the FIA,” Pirelli said.
Pirelli also confirmed they would use modified tyres - originally already to be introduced at last month’s race in Canada - for Sunday’s German Grand Prix at the Nuerburgring, and a new range of tyres - with the structure, construction and
belt of 2012, and 2013 compounds - from the following Hungarian GP on July 28 onwards.