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Just two weeks after the debut
of the new P Zero Purple ultrasoft tyre in Monaco, it appears again as part
of exactly the same nomination for Canada: soft, supersoft and ultrasoft.
Canada however will present a number of different challenges to Monaco, with
notably higher speeds and higher loads that generate more temperature and
put increased energy through the tyres.
THE CIRCUIT FROM A TYRE POINT OF VIEW:
- Like Monaco, Canada is a low-grip circuit with a high degree of weekend
track evolution.
- The cars reach speeds in excess of 300kph, meaning that they tend to run
low downforce.
- The track is also famous for high kerbs, which provide the tyre structure
with a big challenge.
- Weather conditions are variable: a factor that has led to a number of
safety cars in the past.
- The hallmarks of Canada are acceleration and braking: longitudinal rather
than lateral forces.
- Montreal is a semi-permanent facility, so track surfaces (and grip) can
vary during the lap.
THE THREE NOMINATED COMPOUNDS:
- Yellow soft: the hardest compound in the selection, poised to play an
important role in the race.
- Red supersoft: two teams have interestingly chosen not to nominate this
compound at all.
- Purple ultrasoft: very popular on its Monaco debut and chosen extensively
in Canada.
HOW IT WAS A YEAR AGO:
- Winner: Hamilton (one stop: started on supersoft, changed to soft on lap
32 of 70).
- Best-placed alternative strategy: Raikkonen, fourth with two stops.
Started and finished the race with the supersoft tyres but did his middle
stint on the soft tyre.
- The top-three finishers all used a one-stop strategy, stopping within
three laps of each other.
PAUL HEMBERY, PIRELLI MOTORSPORT DIRECTOR:
“In Canada there’s the potential for some quite mixed weather conditions, as
we also saw in Monaco, so this could make it a very complex race as has
often been the case in the past. The compounds that we have nominated mean
that there is plenty of scope for strategy, on a circuit where it’s
definitely possible to overtake on the track as well. The ultrasoft made its
mark when it first appeared in Monaco but Canada is a very different type of
circuit with more demands on tyres. This could lead to a number of different
tactics coming into play, as evidenced from the tyre choices made by each
team prior to the race.”
WHAT’S NEW?
- The new wider 2017 Pirelli F1 tyres were revealed in Monaco, attracting
plenty of comment.
- A new pit and paddock complex is planned for next year, so this will be
the final time we see the ‘traditional’ Montreal paddock, which is cramped
but full of atmosphere.
OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE CAUGHT OUR EYE RECENTLY:
- There have been some very varied tyre choices for Canada, with no
supersofts for Renault and Haas. Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull have all
made slightly different choices to each other. |
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