Pirelli open to resuming key F1 safety talks after unusual Fernando Alonso failure

Pirelli says it is open to reopening discussions with F1 teams and the FIA over ordering cars into the pits during races in case of a Straight Line Mode failure.

During Sprint qualifying for the Dutch Grand Prix, Fernando Alonso suffered a rear-wing SLM issue on his Aston Martin, with the active aero not activating straight mode, leaving him with more drag than expected as he qualified slowest of all 22 drivers.

The active aerodynamics, which encompass SLM, were brought in as a response to the power split of the new 2026 engines, with their 50:50 output between the ICE and battery systems, with conventional fixed wings creating too much drag and downforce. 

The Pirelli tyres have also been designed around loads lifting on long straights, where it is expected SLM will be active, with Alonso's failure at Zandvoort providing Pirelli with useful real-world data about how a failed SLM would impact the car.

Given the potential safety concerns involved, if SLM were to fail during a grand prix, in theory, a driver could be given a black and orange 'meatball' technical flag, ordering them into the pit-lane for repairs, or even to retire.

It is something that is not on the table for discussion for implementation in the rest of 2026, but Pirelli's Simone Berra has signalled it is something that can be "reopened" in the future.

"Honestly, we are checking because, for us, it's interesting to gather this kind of data because it's not really [something that happens] really often," Berra told media, including RacingNews365.

"We would like to understand the difference between the simulations we received and the real data that we have. It was not only Fernando, in FP1; other teams tested in different conditions with the rear or front wings not fully open, so we are checking the data, and it is important for us to have these scenarios."

When then asked if discussions would be held with the FIA regarding the use of the meatball flag to order a driver into the pits in case of a failure during a race, Berra confirmed that talks could be held again in the future.

"We can reopen the discussions, because the discussions were open in the middle of the season, so I think it is going more towards next season, and probably we can decide to reopen the discussions with the teams and the FIA.

"At the moment, there are no open points on this topic; it is closed. But for the future, I think we can discuss again."

Berra then confirmed that, in terms of what was most critical in terms of an SLM failure, it was the rear wing not opening for the rear axle, and then a combination of both front and rear being closed for the front axle, but that any type of SLM failure was "very critical."