System 1 groups have been left dealing with some tough technique decisions for the Brazilian Grand Prix as a bunch of parts have come collectively to make issues extraordinarily sophisticated.
A mixture of the brand new monitor floor, the timing of the dash race, Pirelli’s alternatives for this weekend and uncertainty over the climate have created an ideal storm the place the very best route ahead shouldn’t be clear proper now.
Of explicit concern is the truth that groups can’t be positive which mixture of tyres they should hold again for Sunday’s grand prix, as a result of the image from the opening day of working has not supplied a agency reply about degradation and put on ranges.
The newly-resurfaced Interlagos circuit appears to supply some first rate grip ranges, however degradation ranges had been removed from clear due to the large fluctuations in monitor temperature attributable to the brand new black asphalt.
Opening follow came about with the monitor nudging the mid-50Cs, and that opened the door for the tyres to be punished quite a bit, particularly when the looks of graining additionally contributed to some extreme put on.
As Williams driver Alex Albon mentioned: “It is unbelievable degradation right here. This monitor is made out of sandpaper, so it would make it fascinating.”
Nevertheless, issues appear extra settled down within the late afternoon when dash qualifying came about, as monitor temperatures dropped into the 40Cs.
However groups can be conscious that Saturday’s dash takes place at 11am native time on Saturday, when monitor temps will probably be within the higher area.
So, with Pirelli having chosen essentially the most aggressive of its tyre compounds for this weekend, and the comfortable being just about a single lap tyre so not appropriate for the dash length, that can probably nudge groups to having to make use of a medium or onerous on Saturday.
The issue with that although is that groups are very tight on the variety of units that they’ve left.
After dash qualifying, all the highest groups are in the identical boat, in having two new hards obtainable, then one new and two used mediums.
Driver
Laborious
Medium
Comfortable
New
Used
New
Used
New
Used
#1 Verstappen
2
0
1
2
4
2
#11 Pérez
2
0
1
2
5
1
#63 Russell
2
0
1
2
4
2
#44 Hamilton
2
0
1
2
6
0
#16 Leclerc
2
0
1
2
4
2
#55 Sainz
2
0
1
2
4
2
#81 Piastri
2
0
1
2
4
2
#4 Norris
2
0
1
2
4
2
#18 Stroll
1
1
2
1
5
1
#14 Alonso
1
1
2
1
5
1
#31 Ocon
2
0
2
1
5
1
#10 Gasly
2
0
1
2
4
2
#23 Albon
2
0
1
2
4
2
#43 Colapinto
2
0
1
2
5
1
#30 Lawson
2
0
1
3
4
1
#22 Tsunoda
2
0
2
2
5
0
#77 Bottas
2
0
1
2
5
1
#24 Zhou
2
0
2
1
5
1
#50 Bearman
2
0
1
2
4
2
#27 Hulkenberg
2
0
1
2
5
1
So, with indications pointing in direction of Sunday’s grand prix being a two-stop race, groups are going to have to decide on the place the compromise comes from and the place they probably run a used medium.
It’s not clear but whether or not monitor temperatures and degradation will imply the very best technique on Sunday is to run medium/onerous/medium (which was final 12 months’s technique primarily based on the present tyres being one step softer), or medium/onerous/onerous.
Each methods are at present viable and there may be just a few seconds of distinction between them on paper, though a double medium alternative might require extra administration.
This implies if groups burn by certainly one of their new units of tyres for the dash, then they must run with used mediums within the race.
Pirelli tyres
Photograph by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Photos
Usually, a used set of tyres – the mediums could have finished just a few laps in a qualifying effort throughout SQ1 or SQ2 shouldn’t be such an issue – nevertheless it might set off some draw back this time round as a result of Brazil’s race could possibly be a battle in opposition to tyre put on fairly than maintaining temperatures below management.
And the extent of wear and tear seems to be a lot increased than it’s previously as a result of the brand new monitor floor is triggering some graining.
Pirelli’s chief engineer Simone Berra mentioned: “We anticipated this with the brand new tarmac, with the brand new floor.
“It is one thing that’s fairly regular, particularly on the rear proper, however additionally it is the entrance proper inside half of the tread. And this graining stage is affecting the acceleration of the wear and tear in some areas.”
Berra reckoned there was no good approach ahead proper now, as in some unspecified time in the future groups on Saturday or Sunday had been going to should go along with one thing that was not best.
“They should make the proper alternative,” he mentioned. “We all know that we had been a little bit bit on the restrict when it comes to put on life, contemplating the brand new asphalt and the brand new compound choice.
“So, I feel it creates a little bit bit totally different methods, as a result of with the brand new tarmac, the C3 (the present onerous) ought to work fairly nicely, and may have higher efficiency in comparison with final 12 months, when it was the medium and a few groups struggled with.
“The C4 (the present medium) final 12 months was actually good, and we have seen this 12 months as nicely that the C4 shouldn’t be too unhealthy.
“So, groups should resolve if they like to maintain the 2 units of onerous compound, but additionally to maintain some good units, so not a lot used, mediums simply to change from one technique to the opposite.
“Then we all know that on Sunday there’s a likelihood of rain, and this will change additionally the compound choice for the race. You’ll fairly choose to not use the onerous, for instance, and use the medium [in the damp] due to the upper grip stage in these type of situations.
“All the pieces could be very viable in the mean time, and I feel it is making the racing fascinating.”
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