Groups all too ceaselessly bin off one of many decisions – both as a result of the smooth is simply too aggressive, the medium falls into no-man’s land, or the arduous is simply too conservative – however this weekend’s race in Japan has left what Pirelli’s head of automobile racing Mario Isola says is an actual “headache” for strategists.
With high-degradation Suzuka making a one-stop just about a no-goer (except we find yourself with a prolonged security automobile interval on the good level), F1 groups are going to be burning the midnight oil tonight making an attempt to work out how greatest to plot their method via the assorted smooth/medium/arduous mixtures which are in play.
The cooler-than-usual temperatures of an April Suzuka race imply that the smooth tyre – which is comfortably faster than the medium – has sufficient life in it to change into an possibility for the race – whereas a rougher monitor floor has saved degradation excessive for the opposite compounds.
And with the medium and the arduous not being too far aside when it comes to their efficiency, issues seem like rather more open than they normally are.
Probably the most logical and most secure route is to run a medium/arduous/arduous, as these two compounds have supplied the very best consistency to this point throughout the restricted apply working.
However, as Isola explains, the smooth has thrown a spanner within the works as a result of it may ship a reasonably vital benefit whether it is used at the beginning.
“The smooth is 1-1.2 seconds per second faster than the medium,” he stated. “And that signifies that if you wish to get the benefit at the beginning of the race with a compound that’s providing you with much more grip, you’re taking it.
“Certain you will have a shorter first stint, round 10 laps, however then you’ll be able to plan a method with the smooth/arduous/arduous – particularly with a robust undercut.”
Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing RB20
Photograph by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Photographs
However this mixture just isn’t an possibility that each one the groups can run to, with allocation decisions already leaving Crimson Bull, Ferrari and Aston Martin with just one arduous accessible for the race.
Which means the medium has to return into play for them, and degradation may should be managed extra, particularly if the monitor is made greener on Sunday morning with gentle showers anticipated to comb via Suzuka.
Extensive open decisions
Final 12 months Max Verstappen received with a medium/medium/arduous technique, however the smooth being an honest possibility may imply issues are completely different this time round.
Plotting how greatest to make use of the tyres if groups wouldn’t have two hards is much from clear – smooth/arduous/medium might be a method of doing it, and even switching it round and going medium/arduous/smooth – to unleash the smooth when the automobile is at its lightest.
It is not unattainable both that groups select to desert the arduous solely – particularly if monitor circumstances are completely different by the point the race begins.
Isola added: “Delicate/medium/medium is feasible. We’ll see the traits of the circuit tomorrow as a result of there may be nonetheless a chance of sunshine showers within the morning and if now we have gentle showers, we all know that the circuit goes to alter.
“I imagine that roughly all people has two units of mediums, so the technique is possible. However the truth that now we have 13 vehicles with two units of hards of their allocation, I imagine it’s a clear indication that the arduous is a compound they’ll use for the race. In any other case, they’d have removed the arduous as quickly as they’ll.”
The state of affairs has left Isola feeling that there is no such thing as a single route that stands out as the very best, which may make for an interesting encounter.
“It is troublesome to present you a single quickest technique as a result of it can rely lots on place on monitor, and the state of affairs after the beginning,” he stated.
“That for me is much more fascinating as a result of no less than we see the groups and their technique engineers having some complications tomorrow.”
Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing RB20, forward of Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR24
Photograph by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Photographs
George Russell was one driver who reckoned it was arduous to foretell which method everybody would select to go.
“It’s going to be fascinating tomorrow,” he stated. “I believe whenever you have a look at the tyres remaining, we have got two hards and a medium. I believe Ferrari and Crimson Bull solely have one arduous. Fernando solely has one arduous, one medium, so he has to do one stint on the smooth. So it’ll be a variety of selection between the highest ten vehicles.”
Whereas virtually no person is anticipating that Crimson Bull is not going to be in a category of their very own on the entrance, it’s the battle behind that would throw up some surprises.
Excellent news for McLaren?
Primarily based on Pirelli’s view that having two hards might be the best way ahead in minimising the dangers of excessive degradation, that might be particularly excellent news for McLaren – which has Lando Norris third on the grid.
Certainly, McLaren crew principal Andrea Stella felt that Ferrari’s long-run promise from apply was nothing to be too frightened about – as he instructed his personal squad had its sights set on that best-of-the-rest spot.
“I believe they [Ferrari] may need had rather less gas than Crimson Bull,” he stated. “Crimson Bull, they only look robust right here, so I shall be shocked that there’s a automobile that’s clearly sooner on a long term.
“If Ferrari had been clearly faster [on the long run], then that might be a gas distinction. This is among the highest gas results of the season as a result of when you have 10 kilogrammes much less, it is between three and 4 tenths. So if it is 20 kilogrammes, it’s already a very completely different class.”
Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38
Photograph by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Photographs
Stella thinks the medium has proven some worrying ranges of degradation, which is why his crew elected to hitch Mercedes in preserving two units of hards again.
“We tried some lengthy runs in P1 on the medium tyre, and we noticed what we anticipated: the degradation is excessive,” he stated.
“We expect our tyre allocation with two arduous tyres is beneficial and we are going to see tomorrow if it is a good thought or not.
“There’s some vehicles which have two mediums as a substitute: like Ferrari, Crimson Bull and Aston, and I believe they went even 5/1/1 [S/M/H] so they may probably begin on smooth, so we are going to see numerous situations tomorrow. The tyres could also be an element.
“However we predict that for what have seen with the high-fuel runs, we needs to be within the combine. And I believe excited about a podium end just isn’t too courageous.”
