Pirelli introduced the new C6 tyre at Imola, but it failed to meet expectations as teams struggled to make it last even for a single lap.
Drivers from Aston Martin and Mercedes achieved their best times on the C5 tyre during qualifying, the medium selection for the Imola GP.
Despite positive feedback after practice sessions indicating improved grip, the C6’s performance significantly dropped in qualifying, leading teams to opt for the C5.
Pirelli had anticipated a lap time improvement of up to half a second with the C6 but faced challenges with its consistency and management during Saturday’s sessions.
Teams noted that drivers could extract better performance from a used C6 tyre compared to a new one, with Pirelli explaining the difference as a lower peak but more predictable grip level.
Pirelli’s motorsport manager, Mario Isola, mentioned the issue of understeer affecting the C6’s performance, attributing it to difficulty in extracting full potential from the tyre.
