Ferrari took to the Mugello Circuit in Italy to help Pirelli gain a further understanding of the 18-inch tyres this season. The new tyres are bigger in terms of rim size, but now have smaller sidewalls, increasing the stiffness of the carcass. This naturally means that there is more pressure in the tyre than there was before, making them less abrasive with the track surface. This, coupled with the ground effect aerodynamics, has helped the cars follow more closely and, subsequently, has increased the longevity of race battles. What Pirelli motorsport boss Mario Isola might not have quite foreseen though, was the “porpoising” and bouncing the teams have experienced as a result of the...
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