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The P Zero White medium and P
Zero Yellow soft compound have been nominated for this year’s Brazilian
Grand Prix: the most popular combination of the season, which has been
selected for the ninth and final time in 2015.
Brazil is one of the shortest but most intense laps of the year, with the
circuit running in an anticlockwise direction, which is quite unusual in
Formula One. There is plenty of work for both the tyres and the drivers – as
the Interlagos track requires a high degree of physical effort – and the
situation is often made more complex by variable weather conditions. Last
year, the hottest track temperatures recorded all season were in Brazil, but
the race has also been affected by heavy rain in the past. If it remains
dry, Interlagos is ideal territory for the versatile medium and soft slick
compounds.
Paul Hembery, Pirelli motorsport director: “Interlagos is one of those
historic venues that has helped to shape the history of Formula One, so it’s
a pleasure to come here and experience once more the unique atmosphere and
passion from the local fans, at the end of what is our first American triple
header in Formula One, with races in the United States, Mexico and now
Brazil. South America and Brazil in particular is one of Pirelli’s biggest
global markets, so this is a particularly important race for us, as we are
so widely represented here. The changes to the asphalt at Interlagos
last year altered the pattern of tyre behaviour, so it will be interesting
to see how that affects tyre usage this year. Traditionally, Interlagos is
quite a high-energy circuit for tyres, so we would expect to see two or
three pit stops for the majority of competitors. As always though, we will
only have an accurate picture of the real situation after the opening free
practice sessions on Friday.”
The biggest challenges for the tyres:
The re-asphalting of the circuit last year changed the abrasion levels of
the surface, and it is also possible that there will be some additional
patches of new asphalt again this year. Other improvements to the circuit
this year include a new pit complex.
The circuit is rear-limited, with the right-rear tyre being the most
stressed due to the anti-clockwise layout – which is also the case at the
next and final venue on the calendar, in Abu Dhabi. Tyres are often
subjected to combined forces at Interlagos: in other words lateral and
longitudinal demands at the same time. This raises the temperature of the
compound. Downforce levels are generally high, with aerodynamic and
mechanical grip requirements roughly in equal proportion.
Last year’s strategy and how the race was won: There was heatwave last year,
so this was not entirely typical of what we would expect to see this time.
In 2014, Nico Rosberg won the race for Mercedes using a three-stop strategy.
He started on the soft tyre and then changed to the medium on laps seven, 26
and 50. The highest-placed two-stopper, Kimi Raikkonen, finished seventh.
Expected performance gap between the two compounds: 0.9 seconds per lap.
The Pirelli team choose their race numbers: #77, Didem Portakal, logistics
manager
“There’s a very simple reason behind this: 77 is the year of my birth, so
it’s an obvious choice really.” |
