GPDA chairman Alex Wurz has slammed Formula 1’s decision to use 18-inch wheels from 2021 as purely “marketing”.
The switch from the current 13-inch rims is something Pirelli has wanted for some time, having first tested them on a Lotus car way back in 2014.
However, at a time when drivers are complaining about the increased weight of today’s F1 cars, the Austrian says changes like that are purely counterproductive.
“We have commercial decisions that are leading to imbalances,” Wurz was quoted as telling Motorsport-Magazin.
“Like the 18-inch wheels that are to come. Drivers aren’t happy because they bring 25 to 27 kilos just for the sake of a commercial benefit. They bring nothing to the driver.
“They may be a bit simpler for aerodynamics, but that argument doesn’t count. They are much heavier. The only advantage is marketing.”
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One point Wurz doesn’t mention is the change will bring F1 in line with almost every other major racing series and the car industry, which is something that also, admittedly, benefits Pirelli from a sales perspective.
However, he insists such moves won’t offer any commercial benefit to the sport if the races are dull and he used an opposite analogy to make his point.
“I was called ‘Mr Halo’ when many journalists and fans predicted that when the Halo arrived, Formula 1 would be is dead,” he recalled.
“But we’ve seen that it has saved a few drivers’ and ratings haven’t suffered. We’ve adjusted to it.
“I’m extremely focused on [improving the] design,” Wurz added. “But whether there is a 19-inch or a 13-inch tyre on a car, if a car is stylishly designed and the races are thrilling, it’s not the item that sells.”