Lewis Hamilton, the British driver of the Mercedes AMG F1 W15, has expressed his dissatisfaction with the current allocation of tires provided by Pirelli for the 2024 Formula 1 season. Hamilton stated that the tire operating window is extremely narrow, making it difficult to find the ideal balance and grip throughout the entire lap. He referred to these tires as his least favorite since Pirelli became the sole supplier. However, Pirelli’s Chief Engineer, Simone Berra, disagreed with Hamilton’s claims. Berra argued that the issue is not with the tires themselves, but rather with the increased competitiveness among teams, making effective tire management crucial. According to Berra, the tire characteristics have not changed significantly, but the smaller differences in lap times between teams mean that even the slightest advantage or disadvantage can make a significant difference in performance. Berra also acknowledged that certain compounds, such as C4 and C5, may exhibit inconsistent performance, but attributed this not only to the tires, but also to the car’s suspension and how it exploits the capabilities of the compound.
