New Formula One tyre manufacturer Pirelli would still like to see the sport move to larger rims on their tyres from 2013, despite agreeing to continue with the current tyre dimensions for the start of their contract next year.
Pirelli were confirmed as the new tyre supplier from 2011 as a replacement for Bridgestone, and agreed to continue with the current 13 inch wheel rim rules.
But after the negotiations over the new supply was dominated by mutterings of a move to wider rimmed tyres, Pirelli have confirmed that they will still be pushing for wider wheels from 2013, when F1 will have a major technical overhaul.
"We have had quite detailed discussions with teams," Pirelli managing director Francesco Gori told Autosport last week.
"Of course, not for the 2011 season or 2012, but possibly, possibly starting from 2013, to progressively move to bigger diameters - maybe step by step and not suddenly to 18 inch, because that's going to be impossible to redesign the car.
"But you may have 15 inch wheels or different wheels front and rear. We will offer some alternatives to the teams.
"But I'm sure there is the room to develop better shape tyres in line with current developments. We are leading in the supercar business, and today you don't go below 19 and 20 inches there."
The Pirelli chairman, Marco Tronchetti Provera, also moved to clarify that their new F1 contract would not give them any budgetry issues, despite the short time the company has to roll out tyres for next year.
"Formula 1 understands the problems for suppliers, and we have reached an agreement to be able to serve Formula 1 with what they need in terms of tyres, and they have been helpful with us with different teams paying for the service," Provera explained.
"So at the end of the day, for us the cost - taking into account all items - will be zero compared to our budget and the advertising campaign that is linked to our Formula 1 will be switched from other races where we've reduced our presence, first of all rallying, where there are new rules starting next year."
He confirmed that the company would create a team dedicated to F1 within their organisation, with production of the tyres to be based in their Turkish factory in Izmit.
The company also confirmed that they would use the brand new Dallara GP2 chassis for 2011 as their test-bed for their F1 tyres, dismissing speculation that they might have bought the rights to the mothballed Toyota 2010 chassis.
"There has been a bit of press about [us using the Toyota chassis] but it has probably come from them because they are trying to get someone to use the car maybe..." Pirelli motorsport boss Paul Hembery rambled, "No we are going to start with a GP2 car, the new GP2 car.
"Having discussed with the F1 teams the level of performance of the new GP2 car, it's not so far off as you've probably seen. As a test-bed, particularly for integrity reasons, reliability and stability, it's probably a good starting point."
Pirelli will continue to supply GP2 and the new GP3 series for 2011, as well as F1.
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