F1 | Pirelli, two different choices for Styria and Austria

In Austria, where the second and third races of the first consecutive Grand Prix hat-trick of the year will be held, Pirelli has opted for two different tire nominations, as already happened last year at Silverstone. For the first race at the Red Bull Ring there will be C2, C3 and C4 as hard, medium and soft respectively. Instead, for the Austrian Grand Prix, which will be held the following weekend on the exact same track, we will have C3, C4 and C5, i.e. the combination of softest compounds in the Pirelli range. The choice to opt for two distinct nominations was made to add a component that could differentiate the two races, since the introduction of the softer compound for the second weekend could lead to some strategic variations.

The Red Bull Ring is a short track full of ups and downs, with a very fast and rather short lap characterized by a succession of corners and several climbs and descents. Despite this, it is not particularly demanding on the tyres, which is why it is possible to use the softest compound in the range. Given the short 4,3 kilometer lap with 10 corners, traffic is often an issue, and this is an important factor when it comes to the race and especially qualifying strategy. Due to the short and very fast ride, the performance gaps between the compounds tend to be quite small. Most of the corners are right-handers, but the two most challenging ones are actually left-handers, meaning the tires are flat and relatively cold when dealing with them.

The first Grand Prix double at the same circuit this year means teams will have plenty of data and opportunities to maximize the tyres' potential, especially during the second weekend. As a result, the teams will focus primarily on the C5 when it comes to preparing for the Austrian Grand Prix. In the past, on paper, this has been a one-stop race, apart from the occasions where a Safety Car has caused drivers to make an additional pit stop. And so it should also be for the Styrian Grand Prix, but the softer nomination a week later could push the teams into a double stop.

“Once again, after last year, Austria hosts two consecutive matches – said Mario Isola, head of Car Racing and Formula 1 at Pirelli – so the teams have a lot of data on this track and recent experience of how to tackle its particular challenges and the strategies that can be adopted. However, having two different nominations is a first for the Red Bull Ring, so it will be interesting to see how the teams become familiar with the soft C5 compound for the second race weekend and how this choice will influence the strategies to create different opportunities compared to the Styrian Grand Prix”.