Pirelli has renewed its threat to quit formula one.
F1’s controversial Italian tyre supplier has signed deals for 2014 and beyond with the teams and Bernie Ecclestone, and even got the FIA’s green light to stay in the sport.
But Paul Hembery, the marque’s F1 chief, told reporters in India that Pirelli needs to be able to do more testing ahead of the 2014 season.
"Based on the comments of our chairman (Marco Tronchetti Provera) a few weeks ago, there has to be some (more) running or we can’t do the tyres," he is quoted by Reuters news agency.
Hembery’s comments come amid a tumultuous season for Pirelli, after the explosive British grand prix and regular criticism of its heavily-degrading tyres.