Getty Images Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel has criticized the 2013 Pirelli tires following a difficult day in Barcelona during the second test.
The Red Bull driver made his feelings abundantly clear to the team at the end of the session, finishing over a second behind Romain Grosjean down in fourth.
“The tires aren’t really working properly and I think everybody is suffering the same problem, struggling to make the tires last for more than a lap.”
He did however concede that some of the teams may be suffering less than Red Bull.
“It’s difficult to compare things you are testing and also to compare yourself to others.”
Pirelli have opted to supply the teams with more aggressive tires in 2013, meaning that drivers will have to be careful to make sure they do not burn them out too quickly. The move came about following criticism that too many races were seeing only one pit stop, especially in the races towards the end of 2012.
Vettel also revealed that he struggled in the changeable conditions today, with the Circuit de Catalunya experiencing unusually high winds.
“I didn’t do that many laps today, but to be honest the weather wasn’t great and it was a pretty rough day in terms of the wind.”
This was a sentiment race engineering co-ordinator Andy Damerum supported.
“Once again the weather was the main inhibitor today. This morning the conditions weren’t great, so it was a bit of a slow start for everyone.
“In the afternoon we were able to move on to dry tyres, but the wind was quite strong at times and just as with Mark yesterday, that didn’t make life easy for Seb.”
He did appear more optimistic for tomorrow’s session, when conditions are expected to improve in north-eastern Spain.
“The weather is supposed to be much better tomorrow with a balmy 14 degrees forecast, so hopefully Mark will get a smooth run on his last day of testing.”
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Diffey answers Twitter questions ahead of NBC’s live Monaco coverage
May 21, 2013, 3:00 PM EDT
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As part of our preparation for NBC’s live broadcast of the Monaco Grand Prix, this Sunday at 7:30 a.m. ET, Leigh Diffey took to our Formula One on NBC Sports Twitter handle (@F1onNBCSports) to answer fan questions ahead of the race. Diffey, David Hobbs, Steve Matchett and Will Buxton are on site in Monaco for…
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Over Indianapolis qualifying weekend, Michael Pena, star of DreamWorks Animation’s new film “Turbo,” was named as honorary starter of this Sunday’s 97th running of the Indianapolis 500. In “Turbo,” Pena portrays Tito, an entrepreneur who enters a super-fast snail in the Indy 500. The film races into theaters everywhere July 17. From DreamWorks Animation, and…
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Helio Castroneves wants a Stingray in his driveway (VIDEO)
May 21, 2013, 1:00 PM EDT
AP
As you’d expect, there are many perks that go with winning the Indianapolis 500 such as the traditional wreath, the glass of milk, and having your name and face added to the Borg-Warner Trophy. But there’s also another longstanding prize for the victor. Since the 1930s, it has been a tradition to award the winner…
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Three new sponsors have joined the fold for the Indianapolis 500 in the past few days. On Monday, Angie’s List, an Indianapolis-based connection service provider, confirmed it would partner with Katherine Legge’s effort in the No. 81 Schmidt Peterson Pelfrey Motorsports Honda. Legge made the race after her deal came together on Pole Day Saturday.…
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McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh said it was crucial for the team to agree a new engine deal with a car manufacturer. The team announced last week it will reunite with former engine supplier Honda in 2015. “McLaren needs to be supported and teamed in a full works effort with a major automotive manufacturer,” said…
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BMW says there is no substance to comments made by Bernie Ecclestone suggesting they could be about to return to Formula One. “I think they could come in… it makes sense for them to return,” said Ecclestone yesterday. But BMW motorsport director Jens Marquardt told Autosport: “I don’t know with whom Bernie spoke.” He said…
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Bernie Ecclestone says the Williams team are still blocking efforts to allow Formula One teams to use old chassis from other manufacturers. Williams sees the introduction of so-called “customer cars” as a threat to them as they could be beaten to a larger share of the prize money by other teams using year-old chassis from…
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The Monaco Grand Prix has traditionally been a “one-stop” race but Pirelli expect drivers will have to make more than one visit to the pits on Sunday. Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery said “strategy will become even more important than usual” at Monaco because of the difficulty of overtaking on the narrow, two-mile track. All…
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Charlie Kimball has the potential to surprise at this year’s Indy 500
May 20, 2013, 6:00 PM EDT
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The Indianapolis 500 is so much more than just a race for the IndyCar community and the state of Indiana at large. According to Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing’s Charlie Kimball, the month of May is its own season. “There’s winter, spring, May, fall, and Colts season,” Kimball said Monday in Milwaukee for Indy 500…
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Indianapolis 500 polesitter Ed Carpenter is better than you think
May 20, 2013, 4:00 PM EDT
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Throughout his career, Ed Carpenter probably has been derided more than any other male driver in IndyCar racing. And that’s a damn shame. Carpenter’s a throwback in the modern IndyCar series. He’s a pure bred oval racer, born and raised on the dirt tracks of Indianapolis. A true Hoosier, he’s a Butler graduate with a…
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The weekend roundup: In other news beyond F1, Indy, NASCAR
May 20, 2013, 3:00 PM EDT
This weekend may have been the busiest for series not called Formula One, IndyCar and NASCAR. F1 and the two domestic North American sports car championships, GRAND-AM and the American Le Mans Series, were all off. But here’s what else was going on around the motorsports world this weekend: The Australian V8 Supercars made their…
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It’s been six years since an American has claimed victory at the Indianapolis 500. Back in 2006, Team Penske’s Sam Hornish Jr. beat Marco Andretti to the checkered flag by .0635 of a second in the second-closest finish in Indy history. Since then, two Brits (Dario Franchitti – 2007, 2010, 2012; the late Dan Wheldon…
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AP
It’s hard not to feel for Michel Jourdain Jr. this Monday. Jourdain was the only driver who failed to qualify for this year’s Indianapolis 500, as he battled an ill-handling car all week for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. Jourdain is one of the nicest, most genuine people in the IndyCar community, and he has been…
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Bernie Ecclestone believes BMW could make a return to F1 in the near future as Honda are doing. Ecclestone told City AM newspaper he would be “surprised” if BMW did not revive their Formula One effort. “I think they could come in,” he added. “The amount of money they spent was not significant in the…
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Pastor Maldonado has high hopes about his return to Monaco for this weekend’s grand prix. Maldonado has a strong record on the demanding Monte-Carlo street track from his junior career. He has not scored there in his two previous F1 visits, though he came close in 2011 before a controversial collision with Lewis Hamilton. “I…
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Editor’s Note: Two of racing’s biggest events take place on Sunday – the Monaco Grand Prix, which airs live on NBC Sunday at 7:30 a.m. ET, and the Indianapolis 500. One family has a particular interest in both races. They will be the squads that form the Franchitti/di Resta clan. Guest contributor Andy Hallbery, a…
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Bernie Ecclestone has rubbished the charges of bribery being levelled at him in Germany. Ecclestone told his biographer Tom Bower in an interview for the Sunday Times: “I still don’t know what the German prosecutors think.” “I wish I was guilty – it would be much easier,” he added. “The charges are a complete load…
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Former McLaren technical director Paddy Lowe will make an early start for his new team Mercedes after a deal was struck between the two teams. Lowe will begin work for Mercedes on June 3rd after McLaren agreed to allow Lowe to join them before his contract expired at the end of the year. McLaren are…
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- If you’re into numerology, it would appear that the number four is playing a role in how this 97th Indianapolis 500 is playing out so far. The field for this year’s running features four former winners of the “500″ (Dario Franchitti, Helio Castroneves, Scott Dixon and Buddy Lazier), four rookie drivers (Carlos Munoz, A.J.…
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AP
For the first time since 2011, four female drivers will be racing at the Indianapolis 500. Today, three of them — Dale Coyne Racing’s Ana Beatriz and Pippa Mann (pictured), as well as 33rd and final qualifier Katherine Legge from Schmidt Peterson Pelfrey Motorsports — joined KV Racing Technology’s Simona de Silvestro (24th position) on…
