What techniques can be used to manage tyre degradation ?

[Pierce89]

Currently it seems there's only one technique - drive as slow as the optimal lap time which is expected to provide a x-laps stint.

Tell that to Alonso, who was lapping much quicker than Red Bull, yet, he had better tire life.

[marcush.]

How do teams prepare the tyres for the race ?
I´m quite sure heat cycling or other special treatment in the paddock plays a role in some teams getting more life out of their tyres.

[Dragonfly]

Currently it seems there's only one technique - drive as slow as the optimal lap time which is expected to provide a x-laps stint.

Tell that to Alonso, who was lapping much quicker than Red Bull, yet, he had better tire life.

No controversy here with what I said. In this particular race on this particular track and under the particular weather conditions Ferrari had the advantage of lower delta for equal number of laps. Combined with good strategy calls and Alonso attacking just when it mattered, this brought them the victory. Already mid-race it was clear Alonso was going to win.
But I am not sure any team (Lotus included) can say with confidence they have mastered the tyres.

[Pierce89]

Currently it seems there's only one technique - drive as slow as the optimal lap time which is expected to provide a x-laps stint.

Tell that to Alonso, who was lapping much quicker than Red Bull, yet, he had better tire life.

No controversy here with what I said. In this particular race on this particular track and under the particular weather conditions Ferrari had the advantage of lower delta for equal number of laps. Combined with good strategy calls and Alonso attacking just when it mattered, this brought them the victory. Already mid-race it was clear Alonso was going to win.
But I am not sure any team (Lotus included) can say with confidence they have mastered the tyres.

My point is that Alonso wasn't driving to target lap time but pushing his car the whole way.

[Dragonfly]

My point is that Alonso wasn't driving to target lap time but pushing his car the whole way.

I don't think so. As I said, they simply could allow a lower delta because the car was working better (not much but enough) with the tyres. I kept an eye on live timing and this is what I saw there. Live close shots from the cameras showed they had the same ugly wear pattern, especially on the front left.
IMHO tyre management has become a kind of black magic recently and this is what I do not like.