Pirelli: Vettel and Alonso’s punctures caused by debris
Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel were victims of a puncture yesterday during the free practice 2. The drivers expressed concern, but Pirelli investigated and the cause did not originate from the tires but from debris that was present on the track.
Yesterday during free practice 2, Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel experienced a right-rear puncture, reviving the specter of series delaminations of Pirelli tires observed at Silverstone. But yesterday, Paul Hembery, the head of competition at Pirelli, believed that it was not the tires at fault, but debris.
Towards the end of the afternoon session, Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso suffered a puncture on the right rear around turn 14, and we are currently investigating the cause. Based on initial analyses, it seems that both punctures were caused by an external factor, probably track debris, the Briton said on Friday evening in the statement released by Pirelli.
While the drivers were rather worried because Alonso had been affected by his tire issue only a few seconds before Vettel, even if the Ferrari’s tire did not puncture instantly. After further analysis, the thesis of debris on the track was confirmed by Pirelli in their statement of the day, which should reassure the entire paddock: We wish to clarify that the investigation carried out overnight on the two punctures affecting Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso during yesterday’s free practice offers a clear conclusion: Vettel’s puncture was the result of debris—a piece of metal from another car—wedged between the floor and the wheel. Alonso’s tire was also clearly cut by the same piece. The marks on both tires correspond and were caused at the same place, in the thirteenth turn.
