Pirelli says it needs a bigger choice of dry-weather F1 tire compounds to choose from to avoid low-degradation one-stop races like the Indian Grand Prix.
F1's control tire supplier has to specify four dry compounds at the start of the season, with two being selected for use in each grand prix weekend. This system was introduced when Bridgestone became sole tire supplier in 2007 and has continued under Pirelli.
But Paul Hembery, Pirelli's motorsport director, believes that four compounds cannot cover the full range of track surface, configuration and temperature conditions faced over the course of a Formula 1 season.
"We would love to have a bigger range of compounds, then we could have a bigger range of solutions for each track to guarantee a two- or three-stop strategy," Hembery told AUTOSPORT. "With four choices, you're always going to be slightly compromised.
"As a minimum, we could do with eight compounds, with low and high [temperature] working ranges in each of the four levels [super soft, soft, medium and hard] that we've got now."
Hembery (LEFT) confirmed that there had been no discussions to expand the number of compounds and Pirelli is currently working on finalizing four for use in the 2013 season. But should the company remain in F1 beyond its current contract, which expires at the end of 2013, Hembery confirmed that it would discuss expanding the compound range with the teams and the FIA.
Hembery also admitted that there is an inevitable tendency for race strategies to become more predictable as the season goes on.
"The teams improve all of the time," said Hembery. "They are trying to reduce wear and degradation and we're trying to increase it so we are working in opposite direction.
"The engineers in these teams are brilliant. At the start of the season, when there was a lot of comment about the tires, the engineers weren't making comments. They realized that, 'If I can dominate this technical challenge, I'll have an advantage.'
"We'll change a lot of things next year. Will it be enough? We'll wait and see. But hopefully we'll have an exciting start to the season."