When Bridgestone decided to pull out of Formula One after the 2010 season, it wasn’t entirely clear who would come in to fill the void left by the company who outlasted Michelin during the F1 tire war of the early 2000′s. Being the sole tire supplier for F1, Bridgestone had focused on extreme durability which completely removed tire strategy as a key component to Grand Prix racing.
Given a mandate to spice up the racing through tire construction, Pirelli stepped in to deliver several compounds of synthetic rubber that produced immediate returns through the action on the circuit. It was clear that alternate tire strategies would become a part of F1 once again.
While the teams increasingly understood their Pirelli tires throughout the year, the company has been developing a couple of new compounds to be used for the 2012 season. They are looking to introduce an even softer tire that will provide maximum grip for a short period of time, allowing drivers to unleash the maximum potential within their cars during the crucial closing moments of Qualifying.
