A plan to ban the use of tyre blankets in Formula 1 from 2021 has been delayed, Pirelli has confirmed.
Under the new regulations, the wheels are set for a major redesign with 18-inch rims being introduced to bring F1 more in line with other motorsports and road technology.
It was hoped that switch could coincide with the end of blankets being used to pre-heat the rubber – something F1 has wanted as a cost-cutting measure for some time – but that won’t be the case.
“In 2021 we have big changes. We have a new car, a new aero package, we have new tyres, a new size and so on,” Pirelli F1 boss Mario Isola revealed in Suzuka.
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“The idea is to have a transition and remove the blankets, but over a period of time.
“So in 2021 we keep the blankets, in order to have a reference, and then step by step we will go in that direction of not having them.”
Sensitivity to temperature has been a problem for Pirelli, particularly this year with teams heavily criticising the narrow optimum operating window of the different compounds.
That will need to change for the blanket ban to be possible and so perhaps it is no surprise then that their request was met with little opposition.
“When we discussed it I don’t remember any strong opposition,” Isola added.
“The discussion was quite clear and transparent, analysing the pros and the cons of the decision, and we agreed that it is beneficial for the sport to continue, and have this transition.”
Pirelli recently began development of the 2021 low-profile tyres in Paul Ricard and will benefit from F2 using 18-inch wheels from next year.