The Formulation 1 Chinese language Grand Prix is simply hours away, and if qualifying is any indication, followers could possibly be in for an unimaginable race. Oscar Piastri pipped George Russell by simply 0.082 seconds to take pole place, and the McLaren driver may have teammate Lando Norris behind him when the lights exit, as Norris certified in third.
Nevertheless, whereas qualifying is all concerning the one-lap tempo on the smooth compound, the Chinese language Grand Prix can be all about race tempo on the mediums and the hards. All through this week tire degradation, because of the newly resurfaced circuit in Shanghai, has been a significant component. That was the case within the F1 Dash race on Saturday, as Lewis Hamilton ran away from the sector in clear air whereas these behind him struggled to maintain their medium tires in the precise window over simply 19 laps.
How the drivers deal with 56 laps is a totally totally different query.
Pirelli, F1’s unique tire provider, believes {that a} two-stop technique for the Chinese language Grand Prix is “compulsory,” however how every driver will get house continues to be matter of debate.
Listed here are the tire methods for the Chinese language Grand Prix, in addition to what number of units of every compound the drivers have accessible, and why the softs would possibly nonetheless be in play when the lights exit. For a reminder, right here is how the grid will line up in Shanghai:
What are the tire methods for the Chinese language Grand Prix?
As famous above, tire degradation has been an enormous situation for the drivers this week. Whereas the circuit in Shanghai has been resurfaced for this season, resulting in elevated grip for the drivers, the brand new floor has additionally seen drivers tear by way of tires on prolonged runs. For instance, through the F1 Dash race Max Verstappen was attempting to chase down Hamilton on the entrance, however by Lap 14 Verstappen advised his staff that his medium tires have been “useless.”
With 56 laps on faucet for Sunday, and medium tires carrying out after simply 14 laps or so, you’ll be able to see why Pirelli believes a two-stopper is the trail for groups to observe.
“As for technique, the extent of degradation leads us to counsel {that a} two-stop is compulsory, that includes the Medium and the Exhausting,” mentioned Mario Isola, Pirelli’s Director of Motorsport, of their recap of Saturday’s motion.
Listed here are the three principal choices for groups and drivers, as outlined by Pirelli:
The 2 most well-liked methods from Pirelli function the medium and the laborious, each with groups beginning on the medium compound.
Extra on the beginning in a second.
The primary sees groups begin with the medium and swap to the laborious for the second stint, however there are alternatives accessible beginning there. Within the first choice groups will look to run round 12 to 18 laps on the laborious compound, earlier than pitting once more for one more set of hards to go the space.
Within the second choice, groups begin on the mediums and swap to the hards, extending that second stint a bit to round 14 to twenty laps. Then they might swap to the mediums on that second cease, hoping the softer rubber will permit for faster instances over the ultimate stint, which might run round 12 to 16 laps.
That’s doable, given what we noticed over the 19-lap F1 Dash race, however would require some tire administration from the drivers. Nevertheless, that technique may not be accessible to at least one staff, which we are going to talk about in a second.
Then there’s the third technique, which has drivers begin on the softs for round 8 to 14 laps, earlier than ending with a hard-hard mixture. This is perhaps the play for groups hoping to select up spots initially on the softer rubber, and we’ll dive into that extra in a second.
There’s additionally another choice accessible to groups not proven right here, which is beginning on the hards and operating lengthy, hoping for intervention within the type of a security automobile. Drivers behind the grid — you Liam Lawson — would possibly make use of this technique within the hopes of choosing up monitor place as different drivers are pressured to pit early on softer compounds, after which capitalizing on any alternatives that come up.
Isola talked about that risk in Pirelli’s recap of Saturday’s motion.
“Actually, these beginning close to the again would possibly go for the Exhausting to increase the primary stint so long as doable, earlier than making up locations within the run of pit stops,” mentioned Isola.
Nevertheless, what tires every driver has left comes into play now.
What tires does every driver have accessible for the Chinese language GP?
Listed here are the compounds every driver has accessible for the Chinese language Grand Prix, based on Pirelli:
Above we famous that one staff may not be in place to make use of the second choice, which is a medium-hard-medium technique.
That staff? Aston Martin. Each Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso have only one set of scrubbed mediums accessible for the Chinese language Grand Prix. On condition that, they may have to make use of the primary choice, the place they begin on these scrubbed mediums earlier than ending with a hard-hard mixture.
Or, they could possibly be one of many groups that decide to begin on the softs, earlier than utilizing the hards to shut out the race.
Three drivers — Lawson, Nico Hülkenberg, and Esteban Ocon — every have a pair of recent mediums remaining, which provides them some fascinating choices because the Chinese language Grand Prix unfolds.
You’ll additionally word that every driver has a pair of recent laborious tires accessible, one other signal that the groups expect to depend on the C2 laborious tires within the Chinese language Grand Prix.
Why would possibly the softs be in play on the Chinese language Grand Prix?
As mentioned above even with the excessive ranges of tire degradation, the smooth C4 compound may nonetheless play a task on Sunday.
Why? As a result of the excessive ranges of grip mixed with the smooth compound can play an enormous position initially, and groups hoping to select up spots proper when the lights exit would possibly look to the C4 compound to select up these positions.
Pirelli put that in graphic kind right here. As you’ll be able to see the C4 softs give drivers a transparent benefit initially, as drivers on the softs will attain 150 kilometers per hour faster than these on the mediums, and far faster than these on the hards:
After all, the tradeoff comes on the finish of the stint, when the grip ranges go away for these on the smooth compound and they should dip into the pits earlier than anybody on the mediums or the hards.
Nonetheless, for groups with recent smooth tires accessible, that is perhaps an choice. Eight drivers — Lawson, Stroll, Alonso, Pierre Gasly, Jack Doohan, Oliver Bearman, Carlos Sainz Jr., and Gabriel Bortoleto — have recent units of softs accessible.
We’ll see what choices the groups go for in just a few quick hours.
