Sergio Perez has slammed Pirelli for supplying overly conservative tyre compounds at the Spanish grand prix.
F1’s official tyre supplier had a tumultuous and highly controversial 2013 season, but so far the emphasis this season has been on the radical new rules and quiet engines. “The problem is that Pirelli is not helping us to attack and enjoy driving,” Mexican Perez, who drives for Force India, is quoted by Russia’s f1news.ru. “We have lost downforce compared to last year and now we have to drive very hard compounds,” he added. “It seems that Pirelli is worried about the graining of the front tyres, but if you look at the difference between us and GP2, I think you have to be concerned that their cars are so close now in laptime. “Our budgets are at least eight times more than the GP2 teams, but the speed difference is only one and a half seconds, or two seconds. It’s not enough,” said Perez. “I think Pirelli needs to be more aggressive because on Sunday we are all going to just follow each other. We will have a boring race and that’s not good for the sport,” he added.
Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso also thinks Pirelli’s selection for Barcelona is “too conservative”, and according to Perez the pair are not alone in their thinking. “At the drivers’ briefing everyone complained that the cars are sliding and it’s difficult to have a good level of grip,” said Perez. “Hopefully, Pirelli will listen and react also to the fans to make the races more interesting.” Pirelli’s Paul Hembery, however, hit back by insisting that complaining drivers are just making “an excuse” for their own situations. “It’s the same for everyone,” he said. “We had to take a different approach this year as the cars are completely different.”
