Why groups would possibly abandon Pirelli’s delicate tyre

Azerbaijan may need been on the System 1 calendar for nearly a decade, however this weekend is more likely to throw up many unknowns.

A kind of is brought on by Pirelli’s choice to deliver tyre compounds a step softer than final 12 months, because it has already finished for a number of races this season in an effort to steer groups away from defaulting to a one-stop technique.

One of many compounds it’s bringing to Baku is the C6, Pirelli’s softest F1 tyre of all, which generated combined opinions on its debut at Imola, and once more in Monaco and Montreal. The general feeling with the C6 has been that it gives little when it comes to laptime uplift from the C5, which was the softest within the vary, however behaves very otherwise.

Drivers reported difficulties accessing its efficiency peak, or discovered that the height handed too shortly and dropped off sharply earlier than the tip of their push laps. A number of groups reported that the outer floor started to maneuver round an excessive amount of as its temperature spiked, giving drivers peculiar and confidence-sapping suggestions.

The Baku Metropolis Circuit has a singular configuration that’s more likely to trigger issues when it comes to conserving tyres within the appropriate working ‘window’. At 6km, it’s longer than many tracks, and has a cut up character by which nearly all of the 20 corners come briefly order over the primary 3.8km, adopted by a 2.2km straight.

Oliver Bearman, Haas VF-24, battles with Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15

Picture by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Photos

It’s understood that the tyres lose round 40C by the tip of the straight since they’re below much less duress at pace than they’re within the corner-intensive first two sectors. Given the standard working temperature window is between 95C and 110C, because of this because the vehicles method Flip 1 their tyres will probably be at kind of the identical temperature as after they got here out of the heated ‘blankets’ within the pitlane.

Because of this there have been ongoing discussions amongst senior engineers about whether or not the C5 ‘medium’ tyre could be a better option than the C6, of which significantly much less is understood as a result of it has solely been used thrice this season.

This a lot was identified earlier than this weekend. However one other issue has come to gentle forward of the Azerbaijan GP: the climate forecast.

Friday’s ambient temperature is anticipated to settle at round 22C, 9 lower than the observe day in 2024. Rain is forecast for Saturday and Sunday.

This may make strategic choices the groups face much more perilous, given the identified points with tyre-temperature loss going into Flip 1. That nook is essentially the most demanding braking zone on this planet championship calendar, with a better order of g-loadings even than the primary chicane in Monza.

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari F1-75, Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB18, battle for the lead ahead of Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB18, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari F1-75, the rest of the field at the start

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari F1-75, Sergio Perez, Pink Bull Racing RB18, battle for the lead forward of Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing RB18, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari F1-75, the remainder of the sector firstly

Picture by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Photos

Excessive-speed lock-ups are an attendant danger each lap, and a single flat-spot may compromise a whole tyre set. Decrease air and observe temperatures add to the dangers of this occurring.

Given the small distinction when it comes to lap time between the C5 and C6 – Pirelli estimates it as two tenths of a second – it’s extremely probably the groups will elect to stay with a compound they know for the extra important classes.

The primary indicators of this may come throughout free observe: if groups use an additional set of softs in contrast with their typical run plan, will probably be an indicator they’re saving C5 mediums for Saturday afternoon’s qualifying. It’s potential some might look to avoid wasting as many as three units.

Operating mediums in qualifying wouldn’t be an unprecedented technique. Throughout the Imola weekend, George Russell secured third on the grid utilizing C5s somewhat than C6s, a tactic he repeated in Canada – the place he claimed pole place.

Whereas Mercedes is extensively anticipated to comply with this path once more, others – mainly Aston Martin are more likely to comply with. The image will turn into clearer if, as anticipated, groups burn by way of extra delicate units than typical – an unmistakable signal that the red-walled tyres is not going to be the one ones utilized in qualifying.