Spanish Grand Prix Tyre Strategy Set for Variety
The Spanish Grand Prix looks set to buck the trend of one-stop races that has characterised the Formula 1 season so far, with a combination of factors at Barcelona making it difficult for teams to complete the race distance with just a single tyre change. According to tyre supplier Pirelli, the high-speed ultra-rough track surface and a hard tyre option that drivers cannot get to work are set to force teams into a two-stop strategy.
While Pirelli has pushed hard to try to force teams into two-stoppers, it has not happened as much as hoped – with the Bahrain GP being the only two-stop race this year that was not influenced by outside factors like the weather, safety cars or rules. However, the unique demands of the Barcelona circuit, including high load corners and a rough track surface, mean that even F1’s hardest compound options are not going to be enough for teams to eke out the race distance with just a single tyre change.
The track layout at Barcelona demands compromises through teams needing to look after the rear tyre temperatures, but also needing some bite through the long Turn 3. It is a big challenge for teams to balance out those conflicts. As Pirelli chief engineer Simone Berra noted, "Teams are trying to protect the rear axle, but then they over push the front, and they could lose performance from both the axles." The hardest compound of all, the C1, is not working, with Berra adding that it shows "very low grip" and is "sliding also".
The challenges of finding a compromise between rear tyre temperatures and front tyre grip are compounded by the fact that the C1 tyre is not providing the necessary grip, making it difficult for teams to find a good balance. Berra explained, "You have mid-corner understeer, especially in low-speed corners, and then you have the rear axle sliding in high-speed corners with little support. So basically, teams with the C1 are struggling a little bit more to find a good compromise and a good balance." As a result, teams have focused their programmes so far on working out the degradation levels of the C2 and C3 tyres, which will not last long enough to open the door for a one-stop.
Pirelli estimates that there is a 0.6–0.7 seconds pace difference between the C2 and the C3 tyres. Berra thinks that the ideal strategy between teams may vary based on how their car balance is pitched, but he thinks a soft/medium/soft strategy may be the one adopted by the frontrunners. He explained, "I think we could end up in a similar situation as last year, like the top five, with the soft/medium/soft. You put the soft on at the start, for extra grip as Turn 1 is far away from the start. So you can gain some positions if you have extra grip, then you pass into the medium to try to manage the middle stint and decide to extend or not depending on the race situation."
The level of degradation is generally high, higher than usual circuits, but it’s manageable, according to Berra. He added, "The degradation level is very similar between the C2 and the C3. You have to apply a different level of management, but the pace is very similar. The C3 has a higher grip level, but a slightly higher degradation. The C2 is slightly more consistent, but a lower level of grip. In the end, they are quite close." With the challenges of keeping tyre temperatures down, the door is open for some strategy variation, and teams will be looking to exploit these differences to gain an advantage.
The Spanish Grand Prix is set to be a fascinating strategic challenge for teams, with a range of tyre options and degradation levels to consider. According to The Race, the combination of the demanding track surface and the limitations of the hard tyre compound mean that a two-stop strategy is likely to be the norm. As Berra noted, "It’s most likely a two-stop race." With teams working hard to find the optimal strategy, the Spanish Grand Prix promises to be an exciting and unpredictable event.
The challenges facing teams at Barcelona are a timely reminder of the complexities of Formula 1 tyre strategy. As The Race has consistently reported, tyre strategy is a critical component of Formula 1, and teams must carefully balance the need for grip and performance with the need to manage tyre degradation. With the 2023 season in full swing, teams will be looking to gain every advantage they can, and tyre strategy will be a key battleground.
Source: The Race
