McLaren delivers warning over potential 2024 F1 problem

McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella has warned that Formula 1 will need to monitor the increase in downforce levels that could impact the Pirelli tyres in 2024.

The tyres will stay at the same specification as they are currently in 2023, after confirming they would axe the P0 compound. The C1 will stay as the hardest while the C5 will be the softest.

After Lando Norris suffered a heavy crash during the opening stages of the Las Vegas Grand Prix due to low tyre pressures, Stella believes Pirelli will need to monitor the impact throughout the year.

"If we look at some events, we definitely this year have had some extreme parameters in terms of starting conditions for the tyres when it comes to pressures in particular," Stella told media, including RacingNews365.

"How far more can we go just to protect tyres? Having said that, if you think about Vegas, the starting pressures were very, very high. I think some runners might have seen 30psi while running.

"Ultimately this is exactly where Pirelli have the competence, their expertise. If they think their construction and tyre development needs to match car development, ultimately they will act."

Stella: The tyres can the changed from race to race

Teams already provide a projection of their expected performance levels through the following year's championship, with tyre makers Pirelli then designing a tyre capable of performing to those loads and specifications.

Pirelli already introduced a new specification of tyre midway through the year at the British Grand Prix in 2023 using this system, after the expected performance increase was great than initially predicted.

"We know that when it's up on safety, then tyres can be can be upgraded just basically from one race to the other," said Stella.

"We do many tests for Pirelli where the 35 days of testing actually these days should be increased for the future. We have enough testing, we have enough expertise with Pirelli, we are in good hands.

"Certainly the tyres are receiving some heavy duty cycle, if you think about the starting parameters, and when you look at the numbers of these F1 which are just huge in terms of load on the tyres is totally unprecedented."