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Formula 1: New tire sizes and regulations to come in 2021

By Benjamin Kuhl

BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - APRIL 28: Red Bull Racing tyres in the Paddock after qualifying for the Azerbaijan Formula One Grand Prix at Baku City Circuit on April 28, 2018 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - APRIL 28: Red Bull Racing tyres in the Paddock after qualifying for the Azerbaijan Formula One Grand Prix at Baku City Circuit on April 28, 2018 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) /
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Formula 1 governing bodies are set to introduce new tire regulations that will modify the existing tire sizes and do away with tire warming blankets.

Formula 1 and the FIA have begun the process of outlining what they are looking for in the next generation of tire sizes and capabilities. This presents the option for any tire manufacturer interested to submit proposals for the new tire dimensions set by the FIA.

The tire changes come full circle with alterations being made in rim size, tire width, compound ability and a hopeful end to the confusingly broad spectrum of tire grip compounds that Formula 1 currently deals with.

Time to get a grip

The new rim specifications will be set at 18 inches (45.72 centimeters). The front tires will be slimmed down from 305 millimeters to 270 millimeters while the rear tires will have the same width but will receive an increase in diameter size from 670 millimeters. The exact new size has not yet been announced.

The specifications listed by the FIA has more to do with what the want the tires to be able to do on the track and how each compound should act. For starters, each race will have a “soft”, “medium” and “hard” compound. The FIA have stated that the “soft” tire should result in a 2.2-second per lap advantage over the “hard” tire and a 1.2-second per lap advantage over the “medium” tire.

The FIA has this to say about the goals of the new tires, according to Motorsport.com

"“…considered desirable both for its impact on race strategies and to ensure tires are not run to a point of excessive wear. A non-linear performance gradient change (‘cliff’) at a certain percentage of tire wear would achieve this. It is suggested that an underlayer of low performance is designed below the tread compound to achieve this.”"

The goal is to increase the number of appealing pit strategies in an attempt to move away from the standard one-stop norm that happens at most races.

Off with the blankets

The second piece of the new tire protocol will be the attempt to remove tire warming blankets from use. This will put more focus on the drivers and teams to weigh the pros and cons of various pit strategies, and it will add the need to properly warm cold tires up to racing temperature when rejoining a race after a pit stop.

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The FIA have set the requirement that the tire must still be driveable when leaving the pits and should not suffer from a “glassy state”. This rule applies to the intermediate and wet weather tires as well.

The FIA hope that doing away with tire warming blankets will increase the potential for excitement and drama as drivers and teams are given another variable to manage and attempt to master. And while tire warming blankets make up a fraction of the budget for any Formula 1 team, the cost-cutting rule will favor the teams with smaller budgets.

Next: 5 Formula 1 drivers who should attempt the Indy 500

Will we see another tire manufacturer submit a realistic bid, or will Pirelli continue as the sole tire supplier for Formula 1?

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