Race strategies, Pirelli: “Better not to fight too much at the start”

The rain threatens to hit Montreal, where the possibility of a dry race remains in place. In this scenario, Pirelli envisages a single-stop strategy, with all three compounds in play. On a track that is decidedly colder than the previous days, the priority will be not to push too much in the first laps before the tires have reached temperature. For Russell and Antonelli it will therefore be appropriate not to get carried away by the competitive spirit, as he explains to Simone Berra, Pirelli’s Chief Engineer. Towards the single stop If the rain doesn’t arrive, it will be difficult to see a multi-stop race. Engineer Berra explains why: “Even without the rain, we expect a single-stop race, we already knew this before. Clearly the compounds at the moment are quite conservative compared to the current level of development of the cars. We are also harder than last year, which is why we expect it to be a one-stop race, but the most interesting thing is that all three compounds are usable.” In fact, Pirelli found a very low level of degradation in the Sprint, where the C5 proved to be fast and consistent: “The teams never want to risk the soft tyre, but yesterday it worked well for those who used it, even if they weren’t exactly the top teams, like Aston Martin and Cadillac. The teams always have a bit of this fear in using the C5, perhaps because they are stuck with the old specification, but we know that the current one has a wider window of use and is much closer to the C3 and C4 than to the past.” Photo by Mark Sutton – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images The strategies on paper Pirelli is convinced that the most popular choice will be the compromise one: “We expect the teams to go with the safest option, i.e. starting on the medium and extending as much as possible. The medium can easily do even half the race without major problems. Then we will need to understand what will be the best time to mount the hard. The opposite strategy is also feasible, i.e. mounting the hard at the start and then switching to the medium.” In the case of an average start, the window for the pit stop would be around the 21st-27th lap, while those who were to mount the hard tire at the start would have to stop between the 38th and 44th lap. The third option, which is much more aggressive, cannot be ruled out: “The solution of starting with the soft tire and then switching to the hard, however, takes away a bit of strategic flexibility, but ensures a bit more grip at the start and with these colder temperatures it can help put more energy into the tyres.” During the Sprint, in fact, the asphalt reached 30°C, while a few hours after the start of the Grand Prix the track stood at 15°C. However, fitting the soft tire at the start would force you to stop between the 17th and 23rd laps, limiting strategic flexibility in the event of rain. Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images The warning Simone Berra reveals that the limiting factor for the race pace will not be degradation: “From the point of view of thermal degradation there are no particular problems, except perhaps with the intermediates on a drying track. In that case the intermediates go to work in conditions that are not suitable for them and the rear must be protected. The rear is the axle that must be protected, more from the point of view of graining and cold tearing than of degradation.” Cold tearing, in particular, is the phenomenon in which rubber that is not yet up to temperature tends to stretch and tear, calling for caution in the initial stages of the race. “In the first laps, when perhaps the tire is not yet fully at temperature, you will have to be good at not slipping too much with the rear, because you risk generating graining phenomena. In that case you lose a lot of grip in traction and this is where you can make the difference. We also saw it during the Sprint: with the same car, the driver’s driving style had an influence on the appearance of the tyres.” Bryn Lennon – Formula 1 via Getty Images Russell and Antonelli will therefore have to be careful not to repeat what they did in the Sprint, when caught up in the internal struggle they pushed too much in the first laps, with the tires then taking their toll. Berra concludes: “In a Sprint it is something more feasible, because it is a much shorter race. In the long race, however, it is necessary to have a broader vision. If I were in a team, I would prefer not to fight too much in the first laps, to later have an advantage when the tire is at temperature, works well and then I can make the most of it.” Click here to add as a favorite source on Google Discover: you will find our content more easily!

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-05-25 02:55:00