Tyre challenges creates competition

Following Michael Schumacher's outburst against Pirelli's 2012 tyres, Paul Hembery, the Italian tyre manufacturers motorsport director has defended the impact the tyres have had on this seasons Formula One World Championship.

Not only has he defended the companies position, he also firmly believes that Pirelli are playing a part in the excitement of this seasons championship.

For the first time since 2003 we have had four different winners from the first four races, all of which coming from four different teams with Jenson Button winning for McLaren, Fernando Alonso winning for Ferrari, Nico Rosberg winning for Mercedes and Vettel returning to the top of the podium for Red Bull in Bahrain.

At this stage of the 2011 Formula One season [four races], Sebastian Vettel held a 34-point lead over Lewis Hamilton after winning all four races.

This season the top five drivers are all separated by just ten points. Sebastian Vettel maybe leading again with 53 points, but Lewis Hamilton is just four points behind, Mark Webber a single point behind Hamilton, Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso just five points behind Webber.

In fact the gap Vettel had last season covers the top nine drivers this season.

'The season so far has been fantastic: we've had four different winners and four different championship leaders,' Pirelli's motorsport director Paul Hembery told Autosport Magazine.

'So the competition has never been closer and part of that is down to the fact that everyone has exactly the same opportunities and challenges with the tyres.

'It is down to them to make the best of it. Formula 1 has always been a meritocracy; in the end the best engineers and drivers will always succeed.'