Pirelli open to seventies style wide F1 tyres

Pirelli is open to supplying bigger tyres, harking back to the seventies, to help spice up Formula 1.

A report by Autosprint said it is often argued that the sport would be more exciting for spectators if the cars were equipped with big 70s-style rear tyres, as seen on the JPS Lotus 72 driven by Emerson Fittipaldi above.

The change could be part of a major revamp for the 2017 season, with Bernie Ecclestone also pushing hard for the V6s of today to be replaced by loud, 1000 horse power engines.

Regarding the possibility of wider rear tyres, meanwhile, Pirelli's Paul Hembery said: "We had had talks with (the FIA's) Charlie (Whiting) as we have always been open to meeting the needs of the sport.

"We just need a little notice," he is quoted as saying. "It will be very difficult to completely redesign the tyre for 2016, so it is more realistic to think about 2017."

"This is also a logical consequence of our contractual terms, as our deal will expire at the end of 2016," Hembery added.