Pirelli unveils its range of tires for Silverstone
This Monday, Pirelli unveiled its range of tires for Silverstone and will provide a different tire allocation for the first Qualifying Sprint in Formula 1 history.
This weekend, the British Grand Prix will inaugurate the Sprint Qualifying and on this occasion, the traditional format will be disrupted. With one less practice session, Pirelli will therefore provide one less set of tires. The teams will therefore have 12 sets of tires (instead of the usual 13).
For this weekend, Pirelli has chosen its hardest tire allocation with the C1 (2 sets), C2 (4 sets), and C3 (6 sets) compounds. The manufacturer will introduce its new tires tested in Austria, featuring a reinforced structure on the rear tires.
The Italian firm stated that during Friday’s qualifying session, drivers will only be allowed to use the soft tires, but they will be free to choose their tires for the Saturday Qualification Sprint. Lastly, there will be no obligation to start the race with the Q2 tires on Sunday.
Pirelli’s director, Mario Isola, explains this choice of tires by saying that the new weekend format tested at Silverstone is changing the way the tires are used. The Italian then admitted that the British circuit will be one of the biggest tests of the season.
There are a lot of new things to look forward to during the Silverstone weekend: first of all, the introduction of sprint qualifying for the first of the three races this year, which will completely change the dynamics and the pace of the weekend while also having a significant impact on how the tires are utilized.
« The different ways in which teams interpret these new regulations and make the most of them will be fascinating to watch. We also present the new rear tire construction that has been successfully tested in Austria with positive feedback. »
« As for Silverstone itself, it remains one of the biggest tests of the year for tires due to all its fast corners, which means that a certain degree of tire management is always essential. Another key factor is of course the British weather, which is notoriously variable at this time of year. “», said Mario Isola, Pirelli’s director.
In their statement, the Italian company specified that Red Bull, Aston Martin, and Haas will conduct tests at Silverstone with 18-inch tires. The Austrian team will take to the track on July 20, while the other two teams will be there on July 20 and 21.
