Pirelli’s choice of tires, a factor that can change the race

In Formula 1, the car is not the only important factor. While teams invest all year to create the best possible single-seater, one thing they cannot control is the composition of the tires. Provided by Pirelli since 2011, F1 teams must adapt their strategy to the tire compound chosen by the manufacturer. From one Grand Prix to another, the range of compounds chosen by Pirelli can vary. For some, the tire strategy may still be a bit confusing, so here is everything you need to know about the tires for this year.

The tires that change according to the Grand Prix

In Formula 1, it should be noted that teams have three different types of tires available for each Grand Prix: the soft tires, identifiable by their red color, the medium tires in yellow, and the hard tires in white. The difference between these three compounds depends primarily on the compounds, but also on their durability and speed in terms of lap time. As their name indicates, soft tires are therefore the fastest but also the least durable. Medium tires are the balance between soft and hard, with average durability and a speed that is neither fast nor slow. The hardest tires are the ones that hold up best over time, but are also the slowest on track.

The three tires provided can be changed at each Grand Prix. Although each race uses a soft, medium, and hard compound, Pirelli makes a total of five different tire categories available this year: the C1, C2, C3, C4, and C5. The closer to the C1, the harder the tire; the closer to the C5, the softer the tire. The three chosen categories follow each other in order, which can result in compositions such as C1, C2, C3 for the hardest composition, C2, C3, C4 for a composition suitable for a wide range of situations, or C3, C4, C5 for a composition with the softest tires. In this case, the tire closest to C1 is designated as the hard tire and vice versa.

The choice of tires actually depends on the circuit on which the peloton is racing. For example, circuits like Spa-Francorchamps, the longest on the calendar, were specifically built for motor racing, making the track less smooth than city circuits like Baku or Monaco. The smoother the track, the less the tires degrade , so completely soft tires cannot be used in Belgium. On the contrary, the Spa-Francorchamps circuit is also one of those with many fast corners, the softest and most adhesive tires are particularly suitable for this type of circuit. Using the hardest tires would drastically reduce performance on the track . For this Grand Prix, the right mix between the two must be found. This year, Pirelli has chosen the C4, C3, and C2, a mix of soft and hard. Obviously, every year, Pirelli conducts tests to ensure the compositions to be used on the track, but the information about the circuit can be a first indication.

The tires remain the same for each Grand Prix.

Pirelli also offers two different categories to the teams. The P-Zero tires, the ones we just saw (C1, C2, C3, C4, C5) and the Cinturato tires. Unlike regular tires, Cinturato tires remain the same for every Grand Prix. There are only two types and they are specific to rainy conditions.

The first range, intermediate tires, are used for a wet but not soaking track. For example, if there is very light rain or if it rained heavily several hours ago, intermediate tires provide additional safety by limiting skidding, while maintaining good performance. This range is recognizable by its green color. The second type of tires are wet tires. As the name suggests, they are specific to heavy rains and when water accumulates on the track. They can be identified by their blue color. Today, they are used relatively little in Formula 1 because heavy rains usually lead to a race stoppage, but they may still be used if the data predicts heavy rain but for a fairly short duration or until the race is stopped. Their composition makes them less prone to causing aquaplaning risks.

Thus, Pirelli tires are not chosen randomly, but rather according to the track on which they are rolling. They are also the result of long discussions with the teams involved in Formula 1. As a reminder, the available tires can change from one year to another. In 2023, for instance, Pirelli used the C0 range as the hardest compound.