Oscar Piastri (AUS) McLaren MCL38. April 5, 2024. Formula 1 World Championship, Round 4, Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka, Japan, Practice Day.
Pirelli plans to engage in discussions with the FIA and Formula 1 teams regarding the regulation that contributed to limited running during the second practice session at the Japanese Grand Prix.
The expected arrival of rain before FP2 resulted in minimal running throughout the hour, until the track dried enough to allow the use of slick tires in the final stages.
While it was initially believed that teams were hesitant to send their drivers out due to the conditions, it has since been revealed that a specific rule concerning tire compounds played a role.
Lewis Hamilton expressed disappointment that the session was not utilized and hinted at a regulation change that had a significant impact on the number of laps completed.
“They have altered the tire rule, which means no one goes out and uses the intermediate tires, which doesn’t really make sense,” the British driver commented. “But that’s how it is.”
The regulation Hamilton referred to was an adjustment to the rulebook for this season, which mandated an increase in the number of wet weather compounds available for each round.
In 2024, Pirelli provides one additional set of Intermediate and Wet compounds for each driver per weekend, resulting in an increased allocation of five Inters and three Wets.
However, to control expenses at a time when the sport is striving to reduce costs, the rule that previously granted teams a free set of Wet tires has been eliminated.
Additionally, this means that drivers who venture out when one of the first two practice sessions is declared wet do not receive an extra set of Intermediate tires.
With no incentive to run and a desire to preserve their tires in case of rain later in the weekend, several teams chose not to put themselves at a disadvantage.
Pirelli’s Chief Engineer, Simone Berra, has disclosed that the Italian manufacturer was not involved in the rule adjustment for 2024 and intends to engage in discussions with the relevant parties. According to Berra, the decision to modify the rules was made collectively by all the teams, along with the FIA and F1. He further explained that teams are no longer required to return a set of Intermediates after using them in free practice, unlike the previous year. Due to the anticipated rain on Sunday and the high level of degradation at the current circuit, most teams chose to keep five sets unused, except for RB and a few others who completed an out and in-lap. Berra emphasized the need for further discussions with the FIA and teams to find a solution and ensure that the sets are utilized in practice. Although the final decision does not lie with Pirelli, it will be a topic of discussion in the coming weeks.
Berra believes that enforcing the return of a single set of Intermediates when a session is declared wet would motivate teams to run in similar conditions. He added that teams can retain the five sets at the beginning, but if a session is officially declared as wet, they must return one set of intermediates. This approach would discourage teams from refraining from using the set and opting for a new one instead. Berra hopes that this requirement will encourage teams to actively participate in wet sessions.
George Russell expressed his desire for “common sense” to prevail and for the FIA to permit teams to bring a set of slick tires into the final practice session. He believes that this would promote more running and enhance the experience for fans. Russell expressed his disappointment at the limited number of laps completed during the current event and highlighted the inconvenience caused by the lack of practice. He hopes that a solution can be found for such weather conditions, as this is not the first time such circumstances have arisen and will likely occur again in the future.