Fernando Alonso believes that both Red Bull and his Aston Martin team have been affected by the newly-introduced Pirelli tyre constructions. The performance gains in F1 2023 have exceeded Pirelli’s initial calculations, prompting the introduction of a new construction for the tyres at Silverstone.
Alonso and his Aston Martin team started the season as the closest challengers to the dominant Red Bull team, securing five podium finishes in the first six rounds. However, since then, Alonso has only managed one top-three finish, while Red Bull seems to be slipping back towards the chasing pack.
Alonso suspects that the new Pirelli tyres have played a role in these changes. He points out that after the new tyres were introduced at Silverstone, some teams struggled more, while others, like McLaren and Mercedes, surged forward. Red Bull’s pace has also seemingly been impacted, as they were not able to achieve the expected two-tenths or more pace boost with their recent upgrades in Hungary.
While Alonso acknowledges that his team needs to improve their performance, he also believes that the new tyres have made the cars feel different on the track. He thinks that Red Bull has lost performance since Silverstone, which was evident by their reduced advantage over other teams in recent races.
Alonso’s observations indicate that the introduction of the new Pirelli tyre constructions may have had a significant impact on the competitive landscape in F1 2023. As the teams adapt to these changes, the championship battle remains dynamic and unpredictable.
