Pirelli denies favoritism for Ferrari

Pirelli has denied having a privileged relationship with Ferrari in Formula 1. "It's nonsense" declared the President, Marco Tronchetti Provera, responding to those who had raised this hypothesis after the Italian supplier's choice to create softer tires for 2012.

Last year, in fact, Ferrari struggled to find the feeling with the harder Pirelli tyres.

“It was a choice made in agreement with all the teams and drivers” reiterated Provera. “These are the tires for 2012, not for last year's cars” we read in the AS newspaper.

However, the Italian admitted that he would like to see a more competitive Ferrari: “Of course. If you are Italian your dream is to see Ferrari win, if you are English then you support McLaren. Everyone follows his heart."

And with Europe in crisis, a victory for Ferrari with Pirelli tires would be a double success for Ferrari: “There are Italian companies that have the right approach in terms of competitiveness, technology and quality of people. They can offer a great contribution in restoring trust in the country."

During the press conference Tronchetti Provera answered his cell phone: “Luchino!” he smiled, admitting that it was Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, president of Ferrari. “Now everyone will say that I have a special relationship with Ferrari.” Then after a pause: “You're saying it's not true!”.

Provera also reiterated that he would like to see a tire war in F1: “Alone or with a competitor, it would still be fine. F1 has decided to have the same tires for everyone, but we don't care."