Max Verstappen in the Red Bull garage - Photo: Race Pictures

Verstappen gets wish granted after 'leave it home' criticism

10:39, 10 Oct

byKada Sarkozi

Pirelli has responded to Max Verstappen's criticism of the C6 tyre compound.

"I understand the comments from Max. They are not very different from what we have analysed, so I don't disagree with him."

- Mario Isola

After qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Verstappen shared a clear verdict on the C6 tyre, the softest compound made by Pirelli for Formula 1.

The four-time world champion said: "I want to have a chat with Pirelli sometime about just leaving that tyre at home."

Verstappen added that the compound had also failed to perform at three other race weekends — in Imola, Monaco, and Montreal.”

Pirelli had originally planned to supply the C6 in Singapore and later in Las Vegas, but those plans have since been revised.

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Pirelli’s Motorsport Director Mario Isola explained that Verstappen had no influence on that decision, and also said he is yet to talk to Verstappen after seeing his comments.

"I will do that [later]. In any case, it's not urgent because there is no plan to bring the C6 to any other race this year.”

“The original idea of taking it to Singapore and Las Vegas was abandoned because the energy is much higher in Singapore, and in Las Vegas the temperature is also an element to consider. You can generate graining on the C6, so it was not really an option.”

Mario Isola at the FIA Press Conference in Hungary - Photo: Race Pictures

According to the Italian, the C6 was faster than the C5 in Baku.

"It was still the quickest, but sometimes more difficult to use for the drivers. It's a little bit more peaky or unpredictable, so to extract the pure performance from the C6 is not super easy."

Isola continued: “We are fully aware of the fact that the C5 and C6 are very close at the moment. The target for next year is to have those two compounds a bit more spaced, so with a bigger delta in order to have a proper position for the C6."

The Italian also noted that this was the C6’s debut season, and Pirelli will apply lessons learned for the upcoming campaign.

“The point is that next year all the compounds will be different anyway, as the tyres will be different.

"But I understand the comments from Max. They are not very different from what we have analysed, so I don't disagree with Max," he concluded.