STRATEGY: Pirelli changes its prediction after qualifying day
Having expected the two-stop strategy to emerge as the quickest approach for this weekend's Las Vegas Grand Prix, Formula One's sole tyre manufacturer Pirelli has changed its prediction, regarding the one-stop strategy as the fastest way to complete the Nevadan race.
Having displayed strong pace all through the weekend, Mercedes driver George Russell set the benchmark in qualifying at the Las Vegas Grand Prix to secure his fourth career pole position.
The balance between the teams has been very close throughout this 2024 season and there was further confirmation of that tonight, with the three quickest drivers coming from three different teams: behind Russell in the Mercedes (1’32”312) comes the Ferrari of Carlos Sainz (1’32”410), followed by Pierre Gasly in the Alpine (1’32”664). Seven teams were represented in the final phase of qualifying, the absentees being Sauber, Williams and Aston Martin, although the first two of those did at least get one driver into Q2.
Reflecting on the qualifying session, Pirelli's motorsport director Mario Isola noted: “A spectacular and very closely contested qualifying, the teams evenly matched, producing surprises from start to finish.
"As was easily predictable, the track is still very dirty and it gets significantly quicker with every passing lap. As previously mentioned, this aspect, combined with the preparation phase prior to the flying lap, played a very important role in determining the outcome of the session.
With temperatures only just creeping over the 10 °C mark, preparing for the flying lap was predictably one of the most important factors in deciding the outcome of qualifying, and that proved to be the case.
In fact, teams adopted various different approaches to this task, especially in Q3: for example, the Mercedes pair and Verstappen chose to immediately go for a flying lap, while the Ferrari and McLaren duo opted for an additional preparation lap.
As for the strategy, Pirelli had predicted that the two-stop strategy would turn out to be the quickest option at Las Vegas. This estimation was based on last year's race that saw drivers favour the two-stop strategy because of the low temperatures-induced graining process.
In 2023, Max Verstappen won, first past the chequered flag ahead of Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez. Medium and Hard were the compounds used in the race, the yellow-banded tyre favoured by the majority of drivers on the starting grid.
However, Isola noted after the qualifying that "a one-stop is clearly the quickest, with the Medium and Hard the obvious choices."
“It’s true that no one has really used the C3 so far this weekend, but this compound is absolutely the one the teams know best and it was also extensively tried here in Las Vegas last year. It is therefore no coincidence that all the drivers have kept two sets of the C3 for tomorrow night’s race: they will definitely use one, while the other can be regarded as a back-up in case the race is neutralised, which is always quite possible on a street circuit.
"As was the case last year, the majority of drivers will start on the Medium before switching to the Hard as from lap 14. Those going for a more cautious approach, especially if they have been relegated to the back end of the grid, could opt to start with the Hard, going past the halfway point before pitting for Mediums. It’s difficult to imagine the Soft coming into play, apart from anyone planning right from the start to go for a two-stop, to make the most of the Hard with a clear track ahead.
“Graining will make itself felt, especially in the early stages, partly because, as we saw today, track conditions will again be reset as the track will have been reopened to city traffic," concluded Isola.
