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WHY WE’VE CHOSEN THE TYRES
* For the first visit to the spectacular new Jeddah street circuit in Saudi
Arabia, the 34th country to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix, Pirelli is bringing
the three compounds in the middle of the range: the C2 as the P Zero White
hard, C3 as the P Zero Yellow medium, and C4 as the P Zero Red soft: the
most commonly-selected nomination this year.
* Jeddah is the second consecutive brand new circuit this year after Qatar
two weeks ago, although the two tracks are completely different in terms of
stress on the tyres – with Qatar being one of the most demanding circuits on
the calendar for lateral forces. Jeddah is even more of a novel experience
as the track has only just been completed, with very little data to rely on.
* Existing data and simulations from teams suggested the three middle
compounds in the range are the best option for Jeddah and they should be
well-suited to the demands of this very fast and flowing street race, run
over 50 laps. |
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TRACK CHARACTERISTICS
* The track has been designed by well-known circuit architect Hermann Tilke
and is located in Jeddah’s Corniche area. This is the first proper street
circuit since Baku in June.
* This 6.174-kilometre track – which runs alongside the coast – is the
longest street circuit on the calendar (the second-longest of the entire
year, after Spa) and is also set to be one of the fastest too, with an
average speed of over 250kph predicted in simulations. That’s only just
behind Monza, well-known as the ‘Temple of Speed’.
* One of the most demanding of the 27 corners is Turn 13: a left-hander
featuring 12-degree banking that should place high g forces on the tyres.
Jeddah has more corners than any other track on the calendar, which will
keep the tyres working hard.
* Many parts of the circuit are quite narrow and unforgiving, with the walls
close to the side of the track. This could lead to a reasonably high safety
car probability, affecting strategy.
* Jeddah is a night race, like all the last three races of the season, with
the grand prix getting underway at 20:30 local time. This means that the
pattern of track temperature is different to a normal race, with
temperatures dropping over the course of each session. FP1 and FP3 are held
just before sunset, with only FP2 on Friday and qualifying on Saturday (both
starting at 20:00) likely to be representative of the race.
* Conditions are set to be warm but humid, with the track located right
along the northern coast at Jeddah. As it's never been used before, drivers
can expect a slippery and ‘green’ track at the start of the weekend. Formula
2 and a Porsche competition are running as support events, which will help
track evolution. |
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MARIO ISOLA - HEAD OF CAR
RACING
“Jeddah is probably the biggest unknown we face all year, as with the track
being completed very close to the race. As a result, we can only rely on
simulations from F1 and the teams, along with other information we’ve
collected, to come up with our nomination. This street circuit looks set to
be quite different to anything else, and the high speeds with fast corners
will obviously play a big part in the way that the tyres behave. Jeddah has
more corners than any other track on the calendar, and one of them – Turn 13
– also has 12-degree banking, so there are plenty of different elements that
will keep the tyres working hard.”
OTHER PIRELLI NEWS
* Sebastien Ogier claimed his eighth world rally title at the Monza Rally
two weeks ago, and his first title on Pirelli tyres since the Frenchman
claimed the Junior World Rally Championship back in 2008. Ogier will now end
on his full-time career, completing only a part-time programme in 2022 as
the WRC adopts a new hybrid formula with the latest Pirelli rally tyres.
* The final round of the Pirelli-equipped Intercontinental GT Challenge, due
to take place this weekend with a nine-hour race at the South African
circuit of Kyalami, has been postponed due to Covid-related travel
restrictions. A new date will be announced shortly, with Audi currently
leading the manufacturers’ standings from Ferrari. |
