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The tyre nomination for the
Spanish Grand Prix goes softer this year, with the supersoft making its
debut on the Circuit de Catalunya alongside the soft and the medium. The
hard tyre has always featured in the past, but this year a new surface –
which the teams experienced for the first time in pre-season testing just
over two months ago – has altered the complexion of the Barcelona circuit,
giving it more grip but with reduced wear and degradation. And that’s not
the only thing that’s new in Barcelona this weekend…
THE CIRCUIT FROM A TYRE POINT OF VIEW
- The surface may be smoother, but the long and high speed corners remain,
putting plenty of energy and stress through the tyres: the classic examples
are Turn 3 and Turn 9.
- Wear and degradation rates will need to be re-assessed. Although the teams
tried out the new surface at the start of the year, the weather was much
cooler, and the cars were much less evolved. The new surface may have
evolved as well.
- Conditions tend to be warm – sometimes very warm – during the weekend.
- Barcelona contains a good all-round mix of corners and loadings that
emphasise every aspect of a car’s performance: one of the reasons why it is
a popular testing venue.
- The new surface has led Pirelli to reduce the tyre tread depth by 0.4
millimetres. This has no effect on performance but helps to control slick
tyre temperature.
- The front-left tyre is worked hardest, with Catalunya being a
front-limited track.
- Last year, with harder compounds nominated, the majority of the field
stopped twice but with a variety of different strategies: in the past, Spain
has also been a three-stop race. |
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MARIO ISOLA - HEAD OF CAR
RACING
“This year, Barcelona isn’t exactly like going to a new circuit for the
teams: but the changes to the surface are still significant enough to alter
some of the track’s fundamental characteristics. We too have made a change
by reducing the tread depth on the slick tyres to reduce the risk of
overheating, as we will also do for Paul Ricard and Silverstone, but it’s
not a change that any of the drivers will notice in terms of performance or
stint length. The teams already have some knowledge of the new asphalt from
pre-season testing, but the weather is now much warmer, the cars
considerably faster and there will also be some ageing of the surface. This
year, we bring the supersoft to the Spanish Grand Prix – effectively, two
steps softer than the softest nomination in 2017, as all the compounds are a
step softer anyway – so the homework done in free practice will be
particularly important”.
WHAT’S NEW?
- A lot of things: Formula 1 returns to Europe, new asphalt, the supersoft
in Spain, and also a slightly thinner tread on the slick tyres.
- All three top teams – Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull – have made
different tyre selections for the Spanish Grand Prix.
- The 2018 GP3 season begins, alongside Formula 2, which is also in
Barcelona.
- The first two-day in-season test will take place after the Spanish Grand
Prix, with McLaren and Force India running a second car on each day for
Pirelli’s 2019 tyre development programme. |
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