Pirelli is preparing for teams’ complaints due to the low nighttime temperatures in Las Vegas
The weather forecast predicts temperatures between 4 to 10°C for the Saturday night race at 10 PM in Las Vegas. Due to these conditions, tire manufacturer Pirelli expects to receive complaints from various teams.
The cold nighttime temperatures in Las Vegas during the month of November are a major concern for the teams. The tires, provided by Pirelli, are usually heated under blankets up to 100, or even 110°C for better grip on the track. The race takes place on Saturday night at 10pm in the Nevada city, which is 7am on Sunday morning in France. The air temperatures should be around 10°C.
If Pirelli seems to have found a solution by bringing its softest range of tires for this race weekend: the C3 (hard tires), C4 (medium tires), and C5 (soft tires), Mario Isola, director of Pirelli’s motorsport branch, expects teams to complain to the Italian manufacturer. « Yes, they will complain! It’s normal. We will also manage this situation. But it’s a big unknown. Fast tracks, long straights, high speeds, and all conditions that are quite difficult to manage », said the Italian.
« We cannot increase the temperature »
« It’s a step into the unknown for everyone, I believe, because we only have data based on simulations, nothing else. It will be cold in Las Vegas, as it is a street circuit. We have decided to use the three softest compounds in the range to try to generate grip. I can imagine a lot of evolution on the track and very low grip. Obviously, we can’t change the weather, we can’t increase the temperature. A challenge could be to maintain tire temperature. That’s why we have decided to select the three softest compounds », Mario Isola continued.
