Pirelli announces new tires for rest of F1 season

Pirelli chairman Marco Tronchetti Provera. (AP/Antonio Calanni)

MILAN, Italy — Amid concerns that Formula One tires are degrading too quickly, Pirelli says it will introduce a new hard tire similar to last year’s product.

The company, which supplies tires for the championship, said Wednesday the decision was based on an evaluation of the first four races and consultations with F1 teams.

Pirelli says the P Zero Orange tire will "change to a different compound."

Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery says it would give "teams more opportunity to run a wider range of strategies in combination with the other compounds, which remain unchanged."

Teams have complained that tires are degrading too quickly, forcing more pit stops and strategies changes.

A similar tire change was implemented two years ago before the Spanish Grand Prix.

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