Pirelli's Simone Berra shares Mick Schumacher's insights on Formula 1 tyre testing
- Rob Fleming
- 27 June 2023
Following his participation in the recent Formula 1 test with Pirelli at Barcelona, Mick Schumacher has drawn comparisons between his previous experience in Formula 2 and the tyre testing session.
Mick Schumacher's recent participation in the Formula 1 test with Pirelli at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya drew comparisons to his previous experience in Formula 2, where tyre blankets are not allowed.
As F1 plans to ban tyre blankets in 2024, Schumacher's feedback on the matter has become significant.
While several current F1 drivers have transitioned from Formula 2, the elimination of tyre blankets has faced criticism, notably from 2019 Formula 2 champion George Russell. However, Schumacher, the former series winner and now a Haas driver, provided an interesting perspective on the issue when approached by Pirelli engineers, according to Pirelli chief engineer Simone Berra.
"He commented that the level of performance or the level of management was similar to what he was used to in F2 with no blankets," Berra revealed to the media. "That for us means that we are almost at the target, and then he said obviously that an F1 car is a different car, so you need to be more careful when you go out with no blankets and low temperatures."
Despite his prior experience with similar tyre conditions, Berra explained that Schumacher needed to adapt to the new tyre specifications. "The feedback at the end was fine. It's more difficult to take into account Mick's feedback because he is not used to driving this year, and it was his first test with no blankets, so it was his first approach with this methodology," Berra added. "There was a first run where he adapted his driving style to suit these changes."
Schumacher, who last raced for Haas at the 2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, has been serving as Mercedes' test and reserve driver. Toto Wolff, Mercedes Team Principal, commended Schumacher's abilities and expressed his belief that teams are missing out by not including him in their driver line-ups.
With the Austrian Grand Prix scheduled for Sunday, 2 July, at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria, fans eagerly await the next thrilling race in the Formula 1 calendar.
