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WHY WE’VE CHOSEN THE TYRES
For the second and third instalments in Austria of the year’s first
triple-header, Pirelli has made two separate tyre nominations on the same
track (as was also the case last year at Silverstone). For the first race at
the Red Bull Ring, known as the Steiermark Grand Prix, C2 will be the P Zero
White hard, C3 will be the P Zero Yellow medium, and C4 will be the P Zero
Red soft. At the Austrian Grand Prix, held just one weekend later on an
identical track, P Zero White hard will be the C3, P Zero Yellow medium will
be the C4 and P Zero Red soft will be the C5: the softest combination in the
Pirelli range.
These two separate nominations have been made to create a differential
between the two races, providing some strategic variation with the
introduction of the softest compound for the second weekend.
The Red Bull Ring is a compact and rollercoaster track, with a frantic and
quite short lap characterised by one corner after another and several
changes in elevation. Despite that, it’s not especially demanding on tyres,
which is what makes it possible for the softest tyres in the range to be
used. |
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TRACK CHARACTERISTICS
* The short 4.3-kilometre and 10-corner lap means that traffic is often a
problem, and this is a factor when it comes to race and especially
qualifying strategy. Because of the short and flowing lap, the performance
gaps between the compounds tend to be quite small. The majority of corners
are right-handers, but the two most demanding corners are actually
left-handers: which means that the unloaded tyres go into them relatively
cold each time.
* The first back-to-back race on the same circuit this year means that teams
will have plenty of data and opportunity to maximise the potential of the
tyres – especially during the second weekend. As a result, the teams will
concentrate especially on the softest C5 tyres when it comes to preparing
for the Austrian Grand Prix.
* In the past, this has been a one-stop race on paper – apart from the
occasions when a safety car has prompted drivers to take a ‘free’ pit stop.
This is set to be the case again at the Steiermark Grand Prix, but the
softer nomination a week later could push teams closer to a two-stopper for
the Austrian Grand Prix. |
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MARIO ISOLA - HEAD OF CAR
RACING
“Once again after last year Austria hosts a back-to-back race, which means
that the teams have plenty of data on this track and recent experience of
how to deal with its particular challenges and tactics. However, having two
different tyre nominations is a first for the Red Bull Ring, so it’s going
to be interesting to see how the teams get to grips with the softest C5
tyres for the second race weekend – and how the new selection influences
strategy in order to create different opportunities compared to the
preceding Steiermark Grand Prix.”
OTHER PIRELLI NEWS
* After a 19-year absence, the World Rally Championship returns to the
legendary Safari Rally in Kenya during the same weekend as the Steiermark
Grand Prix. Pirelli will supply its Scorpion gravel tyres for the 58-car
field.
* Emil Frey Racing drivers won for Lamborghini the latest round of the GT
World Challenge Sprint Cup at Zandvoort, which also runs exclusively on
Pirelli tyres.
* Following the Austrian Grand Prix, AlphaTauri will remain at the Red Bull
Ring for Pirelli’s 2022 18-inch tyre test, focussing on the
latest-generation slick tyres from 6-7 July. |
