GreenBkk.com Formula 1 | Qualifying tyres could return to Formula 1 next season

Qualifying tyres could return to Formula 1 next season

By Edd Straw

Thursday, August 11th 2011, 10:28 GMT

Qualifying tyres could return to Formula 1 next year, with Pirelli having offered the teams the chance to bring the short-life rubber back to the sport, AUTOSPORT magazine reports.

Qualifying tyres disappeared from grand prix racing after the 1991 season, when both Pirelli and Goodyear supplied the field with very grippy rubber that performed at its peak during a single flying lap.

The FIA banned that sort of tyres after Pirelli's withdrawal from the sport, when only Goodyear was left to supply the teams.

But Pirelli boss Paul Hembery told AUTOSPORT that the Italian manufacturer has offered the teams to bring the tyres back next year and was waiting for their thoughts about the idea.

"We've put the idea of qualifying tyres to the teams and we will get their feedback," said Hembery. "If they don't want to do it, we won't do it.

"It might be a step too far next year and too much for the teams to take on board, but it's something that we have offered."

Real more about the possible return of qualifying tyres in this week's AUTOSPORT magazine, available in digital form here.

Credit: AUTOSPORT.COM (www.autosport.com)