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TYRES ON THE
TRACK
* As was the case last weekend, the C2 is the P Zero White hard, C3 is the P
Zero Yellow medium, and C4 is the P Zero Red soft.
* Mexico is the highest event on the Formula 1 calendar at more than 2200
metres above sea level. The thin air affects engines as well as
aerodynamics, generating less downforce at lower speeds especially. With
this year’s ground effect floors, it’s going to be interesting to note the
impact on downforce compared to last year.
* There’s quite a lot of temperature variation during the day in Mexico,
even in the space of a few hours, which affects thermal degradation: an
important parameter that the teams will need to monitor.
* The Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez is the ‘contingency plan’ to replace the
cancelled 2023 tyre test planned for the Japanese Grand Prix. The FP2
session in Mexico will run for 90 minutes to assess the softer slick
compounds for next year, while in Austin the harder prototypes were run. As
was the case last Friday, the entire session will be devoted to the tyre
test with Pirelli setting the run plan. If a team uses a young driver for
FP1, it is allowed to run its own programme for the first part of FP2 before
concentrating on the tyre test for the remainder of the session. The
prototype tyres don’t carry coloured markings on the sidewalls. |
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MARIO ISOLA - HEAD OF CAR
RACING
“Over the course of a season, our tyres have to cope with a wide variety of
conditions depending on the individual characteristics of each venue. If you
look back at the last two races, Suzuka was all about lateral forces and
Austin was well-balanced aerodynamically, but Mexico this weekend focuses on
traction and braking. The Hermanos Rodriguez circuit does not offer a lot of
grip and the energy demands on the tyres are reasonably low, as the cars do
not generate much downforce in the thin air at high altitude, especially in
slow corners. This year, the circuit might be more front-limited, as the
current generation of car tends to understeer through slow corners – which
Mexico has plenty of – and this can lead to some sliding on the front tyres.
Due to the nature of the venue the circuit tends to feature a dusty surface
with plenty of track evolution. Understanding this and getting the tyre
warm-up exactly right is likely to be the key to success.”
OTHER PIRELLI NEWS
GT
The FIA Motorsport Games takes place this weekend at Paul Ricard in France,
with Pirelli as official tyre supplier. A wide range of more than 3300 tyres
will be supplied to cover an equally wide range of disciplines, from
single-seaters to rally cars to touring cars – highlighting Pirelli’s
engagement in over 250 different championships all over the world.
Rallying
Toyota driver Sebastien Ogier won the all-asphalt Catalunya Rally de Espana
last weekend, on Pirelli P Zero tyres. The championship now draws to a close
at Rally Japan next month from 10-13 November, which will also be held on
asphalt. |
