The head of Pirelli’s motorsport car division explains the lessons the company has learned from the track.
Pirelli is the exclusive tyre provider for the pinnacle of motorsports, Formula 1. These vehicles regularly clock over 220 mph in the straights, can hit a dead stop from 198 mph in just four seconds, and pull north of 5g’s in the corners and under heavy braking. For performance tyres, is there a better testing ground?
That was our question to Mario Isola, head of Pirelli’s motorsport car division, who recently sat down with Tire Review to discuss the direct impact of Formula 1 technology on everyday tyre development.
Read on to better understand Isola’s thoughts on how Pirelli’s involvement in Formula 1 not only strengthens the brand but also provides invaluable data and testing grounds to ensure that high-performance and premium road tyres meet the evolving demands of modern vehicles.
Why did Pirelli decide to remain an exclusive supplier to Formula 1?
Isola: Because Formula 1 is a constantly evolving championship, also technologically, so what we learn every day is important for technological transfer to the tyres for everyday cars. Formula 1 is also achieving great success in markets of high interest to us, like the United States, where we want to develop our brand. So, there’s the dual advantage of technology and brand awareness that we continue to develop in Formula 1.
Where are Pirelli’s Formula 1 tyres developed and produced?
Isola: The Formula 1 tyres are developed in Milan, at our headquarters, by a research and development team dedicated to motorsport, and are produced in Slatina, Romania. Then we have a backup factory in Izmit, Turkey, which is capable of producing identical products in case Slatina has any issues. Pirelli’s road tyres are produced even in the same factories, but Pirelli obviously has many other factories around the world. The technology we develop thanks to Formula 1 can then be applied in other factories as well.
What lessons has Pirelli learned from motorsport that apply to passenger tyres?
Isola: There are many lessons learned from the track to the road. One example, not related to Formula 1 but to the world of rally, is run-flat technology. Many years ago, run-flat technology was implemented in rally products, and the benefits were transferred to road tyres. This is a clear example of successful technology. Another example is the bead geometry, which was covered earlier.
Incorporating the technology learned on the racetrack, the most recent example that comes to mind is the development for the Ferrari 296 in the Challenge version. We used the same development process as in Formula 1, starting from a virtual model to build physical prototypes, and only going to the track for final validations.
How has hybrid technology influenced tyre development, and how does it relate to passenger cars?
Isola: Hybrid technology has been incorporated into road cars, transmitting much higher torque to the ground compared to pure combustion engines. Since 2014, hybrid technology has been present in Formula 1 cars and was recently developed for World Rally Championship cars. What we have learned in terms of material development, which must be both lightweight and strong, has been transferred to the road world, as hybrid technology tends to bring extra weight that needs to be supported by the tyres. This weight is similar to the aerodynamic load in Formula 1 cars, and the additional torque is something we already analyze in Formula 1, so we know how to manage it.
How is Pirelli’s approach to designing Formula 1 tires fundamentally different than its approach to designing passenger tyres?
Isola: I would like readers to understand how much technology goes into tyres, the attention to detail, and how much work is developed and transferred thanks to our motorsport activities to the everyday product. We have a slightly different approach in motorsports and the road world. In motorsports, we have to build the best compromise—a tyre that works well for all the cars in that category. In the road world, we have the ability to customise the product for a specific vehicle, and all this is possible thanks to what we learn in motorsports, where we stress the tyres to the highest level possible and learn how to handle certain situations and elements.
