Pirelli chooses its tires for Australia, Malaysia, China, and Bahrain

Pirelli has confirmed the tire choices that will be available for the first four rounds of the 2013 Formula 1 World Championship.

In Australia, the P Zero White medium and the P Zero Red supersoft will be on the menu: this marks the first appearance of the softest compound in the Pirelli range in Melbourne. With a significant performance gap between the two compounds available during the Australian weekend, strategy promises to be of utmost importance.

In Malaysia, the hard P Zero Orange will be out alongside the medium P Zero White. The two hardest compounds in the range will have to contend with the high temperatures characteristic of the Asian round, also known for the abrasiveness of the track.

The P Zero White medium will accompany the P Zero Yellow soft in China. Significant levels of degradation are expected for the first appearance of the soft in 2013, on a highly demanding track that usually provides close races.

Like in Australia, Bahrain has new allocations this year: the P Zero Orange hard will be offered with the P Zero Yellow soft, a large performance gap separating the compounds. Speed will therefore be a factor in the qualifications, as will durability in the race, which often takes place in very high temperatures.

The regulations state that teams receive six sets of the hardest compound and five sets of the softest compound available during a weekend, under normal circumstances. Pirelli will also provide its Cinturato Green intermediate tires (4 per driver) and Cinturato Blue wet tires (3 per driver) for each race.

[From the Pirelli press release]