Pirelli reports on Raikkonen tire failure

Raikkonen's tire going down

The results of the analysis on Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen’s front-left soft compound tire, which experienced an issue at the end of the recent British Grand Prix, reveal specific damage in two places at the edge of the belt close to the internal shoulder area.

This damage is not present throughout any other areas of the tire whatsoever.

Furthermore, the belt and the structure do not show any signs of fatigue. The possible initial cause of this damage is consistent with contact against an external body, leading to a partial separation of the belt from the carcass in the two affected areas. In one of these two places, as a logical consequence, part of the tread also became detached.

This damage did not however compromise the actual tire structure, with Raikkonen able to make his way safely back to the pits on an inflated tire.

A number of detailed tests have since been carried out, both destructive and nondestructive, on other tires used by frontrunners at the British Grand Prix with a similar or bigger distance on them compared to the set used by Raikkonen (for 25 laps).

On no occasion was there any sign of fatigue, detachment or laceration – or even the beginning of such problems – that affected the structure of the tire. In conclusion, Pirelli can confirm that no issues have emerged connected with the tire itself. Pirelli PR