Pirelli brings the two ends of its compound range to Monaco and Barcelona
Formula One’s tyre supplier Pirelli has announced what compounds it will bring to the Monaco and the Spanish Grand Prix that will take place on the next two consecutive weekends.
Following the cancellation of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, teams, drivers and suppliers have shifted their focus from the Imola race to the next two races that were set to form the second half of the season’s first of two triple-headers.
The Monaco Grand Prix that is set to take place from 26 to 28 May, will see drivers use the three softer compounds: C3, C4 and C5 with the tyre selection having established itself as the common choice over the past year.
In fact, the tyres are not subjected to a lot of stress at the Monte Carlo street circuit as the lap is slower than at any other track and the asphalt is not particularly abrasive. On the contrary, the roads are opened to public traffic each evening, which means that the track does not rubber in as usual. As a result, the drivers have to rely heavily on aerodynamic grip, running the highest downforce levels seen all year.
Just a week later at the Spanish Grand Prix, the C1, C2 and C3 compounds will be used. It is a similar choie to last year, although it is not the same with the C1 being a brand new compound for this year. Last year’s hardest compound, the C1 was renamed as C0 with the new C1 compound having made a successful debut in Bahrain.
The Circuit de Catalunya is well-established venue, having hosted the Spanish Grand Prix since 1991 without interruption and also staged numerous in-season testing.
However the layout will be slightly different this year with the track returning to its former configuration The final chicane will be removed and replaced by the sweeping fast Turn 14, making a lot more flowing and less severe for the tyres in terms of traction but puts them under greater lateral stress during the final two fast corners. The change will result in a reduction in the overall lap length, which now comes down to 4.657 kilometres.
