Mario Isola: Rubber degradation was minimal

      Mario Isola, head of Pirelli's racing division, commented on the results of the Australian Grand Prix, which was won by Lando Norris, and spoke about the effectiveness of the intermediate tires on which most of the race was completed.

      Mario Isola: "What a start to the new Formula 1 season! In just one hundred minutes, we experienced so many emotions, and the result was not known until the last lap – it's not only about winning, but also positions in the top ten.

      From a technical point of view, we were able to evaluate how the 2025 intermediate tires performed. They allowed the drivers to attack at the limit for many laps even when the track started to show a dry trajectory.

      There was only a slight granulation on the front left tire, which is experiencing the most stress on this track, but overall we saw a minimal level of rubber degradation.

      There is practically nothing to say about slicks, since the segments on them turned out to be quite short – from ten to fourteen laps, which makes it difficult to assess their effectiveness.

      Now, together with ten teams, we are starting preparations for the second stage of the season next week in Shanghai. The track in China is very different from the track in Melbourne. We are waiting for a completely new asphalt and a weekend in the sprint format, which will be an additional challenge."