Pirelli’s hardest compound tyres may never again be seen at grands prix, motor sport director Paul Hembery has admitted.
French website autohebdo.fr quotes the Briton as saying the silver-sidewalled Pirellis have proved "probably too hard" in 2011.
"We will probably not see the hard tyres (again)," said Hembery. "They are probably too hard and the mediums have proved strong enough for the tracks that lie ahead."
As for 2012, he said "It is likely that the medium compound will replace the hard next season", adding that a new compound between the current medium and soft would then be introduced.