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WHY WE’VE CHOSEN THE TYRES
* For the first time since Austria, the three softest compounds in the range
have been nominated for this weekend’s Russian Grand Prix: C3 as the P Zero
White hard, C4 as the P Zero Yellow medium, and C5 as the P Zero Red soft.
This is the same nomination that was made in Russia last season, when the
event was held at a similar time of year.
* Sochi is a low severity track and the track surface has been steadily
maturing since the asphalt was originally laid nearly a decade ago. As a
result, the softest rubber in the P Zero range is the perfect choice for the
Russian track.
* The weather should be quite mild at this time of year, so helping to
reduce thermal degradation, although this aspect is more related to the
track’s layout and roughness. |
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TRACK CHARACTERISTICS
* The corners located around Sochi’s Olympic Park are generally slow to
medium speed, with a number of 90-degree turns. In general, the circuit is
all about traction and braking, so it’s rear-limited. The most demanding
corner (and the only front-limited corner) is Turn 3: a multi-apex
left-hander that is similar in some ways to Istanbul’s famous Turn 8 in
Turkey, which is next grand prix on the calendar.
* Teams tend to run medium to low downforce, on account of Sochi’s quite
long straights, which places the emphasis on mechanical grip from the tyres.
* The track is not used a lot during the season, so it’s often particularly
‘green’ and slippery towards the start of the weekend. This can sometimes
cause the tyres to slide rather than grip, especially during Friday’s free
practice sessions but, as was the case last year, graining usually reduces a
lot between free practice and the race due to track evolution.
* Russia has traditionally been a one-stop race, and this was mostly the
case last year as well. The top two finishers used a medium to hard
strategy, but there was plenty of variation further down the order with some
drivers starting on the soft, and three competitors using all three
compounds in a two-stopper as well. |
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MARIO ISOLA - HEAD OF CAR
RACING
“We’ve seen in the past that there’s been quite a lot of different strategic
thinking, with all three compounds on the grid at the start of the race and
varying tactics during the grand prix. Last year, the soft C5 performed
better than expected and graining levels were reduced over all compounds
between free practice and the race, due to high track evolution. In the
past, some drivers have even tried a very early switch to the hardest
compound and attempted to run all the way to the end, but last year this
wasn’t quite possible as these days the asphalt has matured and is not as
smooth as it was in the past. With the extra rubber on track from the very
full schedule of support races this time, track evolution and grip should be
further enhanced.”
OTHER PIRELLI NEWS
* The final round of the Pirelli-equipped GT World Challenge Sprint Cup
takes place during the same weekend as the Russian Grand Prix, at the
permanent Valencia circuit in Spain.
* The World Rally Championship – exclusively supplied by Pirelli – has
announced that the final round of this year’s series will take place at the
Monza Rally from November 19-21, using stages located on and around the home
of the Italian Grand Prix.
* Pirelli recently displayed its very first FSC-certified (Forest
Stewardship Council) road car tyre at the Munich Mobility Show, created with
the accent on sustainable production. |
