Plans to remove the Q3 tyre rule, where teams who qualify in the top ten must start the race on the same used set of tyres have been scrapped, following a backlash from Formula 1 teams.
Mario Isola, Pirelli‘s Motorsport Director, said: “There was a proposal to remove the rule that obliges the top ten to start with the tyres used in quali but it was not approved.
“At this point of the year, you need unanimity to change the rules for next year, no changes are planned.”
Originally, the rule stated that the tyres which were used during the third and final qualifying session were the ones which they had to start the race on, but it was changed in 2014.
Pirelli thinks it can make sure drivers do run in Q2 by ensuring the tyres are offer are more conservative.
“If we go a bit more conservative in the selection I think that in quali there is no reason to try and use the medium, the one in the middle, instead of the softest, because the advantage is probably less.”
Isola felt that increasing the number of required pit stops during a race may improve the sport.
“I’m not sure that it’s the right solution because there is the big risk that everybody stops on the same lap, or very close, so basically you are just getting shorter stints where probably drivers can push more.
“They can use the softest available compound because the stints are shorter but there is no variation in strategies.”
