Madonna di Campiglio (Italy): Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali believes the switch to Pirelli tyres for 2011 could have a fundamental impact on the Formula One season. The Italian company has returned to the sport for the first time since 1991, replacing Bridgestone, but the restrictions on testing mean it is a race against time to get the tyres ready for the opening race in Bahrain on March 13.

“On the rear tyres there are still some steps to be done. Due to the time we also haven’t done tests with wet tyres,” Domenicali told a news conference at a ski retreat. “We need to thank Pirelli, without them we would be running on rims.”

Domenicali is hoping for rain during the first pre-season tests in Valencia from February 1 to 3 to see how the tyres react in the wet.

Pirelli have said they hope their tyres can help create more of a spectacle than last season. “This year, qualifying should not be as important as it was last season,” Domenicali said.

(Reuters)