F1 uses a large number of tires for each race weekend. Today we will take you to discover what happens after the GP.
F1 is a very complex world, where a car, to be competitive, must satisfy various rules: it must be reliable, powerful and aerodynamically well built, but above all, it must make the best use of the tyres. In fact, since the Pirellithis element is fundamental.
The tires made by the Milanese manufacturer are quite complex to take to the limit, since they often undergo significant deterioration, especially now with ground effect cars. Speaking of tyres, today we’re going to explain what happens to those used in F1 after every single race weekend. We are really sure that the answer will amaze you.
F1, here’s what happens to used tires at the end of the race
F1 tyres, as you well know, are supplied by Pirelli, and in today’s Circus they use them galore during each race weekend. In fact, since the arrival of the Milanese manufacturer, pit stops during racing have increased due to greater degradation, even if in recent years the situation has improved compared to a decade ago.
If you’re wondering what happens to them after each use, just know that there is an important process behind all of this. First of all, every single set of tyres, which is obviously made up of four tyres, is analyzed at length, the teams, together with the technicians of the Pirellitry to collect as much data as possible on the level of degradation and on everything that can be learned from this point of view.
This type of analysis is even more intense when there are problems with the tires, like punctures or something like thatevents that often require the damaged item to be shipped directly to the headquarters of the Pirelli. As for the tires that haven’t had any problems, you should know that those used in F1 suffer the same fate as the road ones.
In fact, based on what the European Union establishes, they must take part in a precise storage and decongestant process, linked to any type of waste that comes from road or racing cars. The goal of the EU is to bring this type of objects to have a not too important impact on our climate.
After the teams have returned the tires at the end of the race weekends, the Pirelli loads them on transport trucks to the Didcot, or a specific center for this type of intervention where they are combined with the tires of normal road vehicles. The first thing that then happens is to place the tires in a shredder, to then obtain all small shavings, similar to those you see on the sides of the track during the races.
The aforementioned shavings are then placed in a huge oven which takes them to cook at a temperature of 1400 degrees. You may be wondering why the focus is on such a high temperature, and also in this case, the answer is linked to the environment. Such a high number of degrees, in fact, does not allow the shavings to give off toxic fumes.
In this way, in fact, the environmental impact is avoided and the myth according to which all the tires in the Circus are reworked to be used again in subsequent races is debunked. As you will have understood, behind all this there is a very long process, but this was imaginable. Nowadays, world governments and organizations leave nothing to chance for the protection of the planet, and even tires are heading towards a not too beautiful destiny.
