Fernando Alonso has called on Pirelli to try and tweak its tires to prevent the high levels of worn rubber, or "marbles," that were seen at last weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix.
Formula 1 drivers had voiced some concern about marbles during winter testing, but Pirelli was not sure if the problem then was caused by the lower temperatures in Europe at the time. However, with the marbles showing up again in Malaysia, the company is set to work on trying to improve the situation, something Alonso believes will be vital for forthcoming races.
"It was more difficult than Australia, for sure," said Alonso. "There is some concern for places like Canada, Singapore, Monaco, that you catch a lapped car, they let you past, you go inside, you take some marbles and then on the next corner you miss the braking point and you go straight.
"Malaysia was a very wide circuit, and you can come back to the track, but there will be some difficulties in some narrow tracks. We need to be careful and we need to get used to these new things as well."
Pirelli's Paul Hembery told AUTOSPORT in Malaysia that the marbles in Malaysia were not the same as those seen in winter testing.
"They are slightly different," he said. "We had strips in winter testing, big strips. These are actually smaller pieces that actually get picked up on the tires."
To achieve anything, you must be prepared to dabble on the boundary of disaster.”
Sir Stirling Moss
...looking left and not realising your outside wheels are halfway on the grass... )