Only a week after the US Grand Prix, the F1 discipline is ready to race once more this weekend, with the Mexico Metropolis observe attributable to host Spherical 20 of the 2025 F1 season.
Pirelli opted for an uncommon tyre selection for final weekend’s Austin race, having put in a leap in between the medium and laborious compounds within the hope of spicing issues up when it comes to technique.
The Milan-based tyre manufacuter has elected to hold over this method to this weekend’s Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix. Whereas the Medium and Gentle are the C4 and C5 respectively, as in 2024, the Onerous will now be the C2. For the Mexico Metropolis observe, this compound is a particularly conservative selection, with a substantial delta when it comes to lap time in comparison with the opposite two, whereas additionally providing much less grip.
Final 12 months, the Gentle solely got here into play in qualifying after which within the race, solely in an try to safe the additional level for setting the quickest race lap, however now the situation might change significantly.
Pirelli anticipated that the “benefit available from the C4 and C5 might in truth lead the groups to goal for a race run predominantly on these compounds. Nonetheless, that comes with the danger of probably having to make a second pit cease due to degradation. Anybody selecting the C2 might comparatively comfortably handle an extended stint, going for a one-stop on the way in which to the chequered flag, though it entails a discount in efficiency.”
Graining would be the enemy as soon as once more?
Using the 2 softest compounds will definitely be fastidiously evaluated in the course of the three free apply classes, when groups will have the ability to run lengthy stints with full gas hundreds and test the situation of the tyres.
Traditionally, graining ranges in Mexico are fairly pronounced, for the reason that skinny air at altitude reduces the quantity of aerodynamic downforce that the vehicles can produce.
On a observe that already presents little grip attributable to its restricted use, the tyres have a tendency to slip, which ends up in graining. It’s going to even be attention-grabbing to see whether or not the larger resistance to this phenomenon provided by the present compounds will assist restrict it and due to this fact profit those that are masters of tyre administration.
What does the historical past inform?
As for the previous expertise, the historical past factors in direction of a one-stop technique that dominated final 12 months’s race as effectively. All drivers, besides Sergio Pérez, adopted a one-stop technique. Most began on the Medium compound, whereas six drivers, all of whom went on to complete outdoors the highest eleven, most popular the Onerous for the primary stint. The simplest technique, in idea and later confirmed on observe, proved to be Medium-Onerous.
No specific tyre administration expertise have been required to increase the stint on the medium compound, which, typically, confirmed solely a slight quantity of graining and really restricted degradation. The longest stint on the yellow-banded compound was 39 laps from McLaren driver Oscar Piastri, whereas on the white-banded compound it went as excessive as 49 laps with Valtteri Bottas.
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