Pirelli: the P Zero Rosso supersoft tire debuts in Monaco

Here is the most prestigious Grand Prix of the World Championship: Pirelli faces it by debuting the supersoft P Zero Rosso tire in the 2014 championship, which will join the soft P Zero Giallo already seen in competition in three of the five GPs already held. The Monte Carlo circuit has the lowest average speed and the slowest corners of the season: conditions in which the set-up of the single-seaters favors mechanical grip rather than aerodynamic one. Mechanical grip guaranteed exclusively by the tyres. In this situation, the ability to quickly bring the tires to temperature is essential, so as to find maximum grip as soon as possible. Slippery surface, typical of road circuits and partly resurfaced this year (for example at the tunnel exit), as well as manholes, painted stripes on the ground and rough surfaces make the challenge for the tires even more extreme.

Paul Hembery, Pirelli Motorsport Director: “Monaco is the showcase event for Formula 1, with a unique atmosphere and the source of an unrepeatable challenge in the championship. In this context, our supersoft Red makes its race debut this year, presenting - like the entire 2014 range - new compounds and constructions aimed at increasing durability. Traditionally, consumption and degradation have modest values ​​in Monte Carlo, so that it would be possible to race the entire GP even with just one stop. However, this is not always the best strategy, especially due to the great difficulty of overtaking in the race: an aspect that makes qualifying particularly important. Also given the high possibility of safety cars in the race, race strategies must therefore be flexible, and reading the race in the shortest possible times almost always becomes the key to victory."

Jean Alesi, Pirelli consultant: “I competed in Monte Carlo 12 times and I immediately understood the difference that the driver can make on this circuit. I will never forget my debut in the Principality: it was 1990, I drove the Tyrrell-Ford with Pirelli tires and I soon managed to be very fast in qualifying, finishing the GP just one second behind the winner Ayrton Senna. The following year, a new podium: third with Ferrari, behind Senna's McLaren and Mansell's Williams. Monte Carlo rewards an optimal set-up of the single-seater and the performance of the driver rather than the power of the engine. You race with the greatest possible aerodynamic load, so as to be super fast in the corners which make up almost the total of the 3,3 km of the track. Tires are obviously a key element, pushing for the choice towards softer compounds. The surface changes a lot over the weekend: it goes from a dirty asphalt on Thursday to a more rubberized surface on Saturday, the day when the 'real' times are seen. The strategy is particularly important: I believe that whoever manages to fit new supersoft tires in the last part of the GP will gain a very significant advantage."

The circuit from a tire point of view:

Monte Carlo offers a unique racing format for F1. Free practice is on Thursday; On Friday morning only the GP2 races and in the afternoon the circuit is open to traffic. The F1 cars return to action on Saturday, on an asphalt that the previous afternoon lost part of its rubber and became dirty again.

When exiting all the slow corners of the circuit, the risk of losing grip during acceleration is very high. Risk increased this year by the high torque of the turbo engines, so that the care and management of the tires will be even more relevant.

With mechanical grip playing a more important role than aerodynamic grip, it will be essential to keep the tires within the optimal performance range. To achieve this objective, a constant and non-aggressive driving style will be of the utmost importance, as will perfect warming of the tyres.

The P Zero Red supersoft is a low working range compound, therefore capable of ensuring optimal performance even at low tread temperatures. The P Zero Yellow soft tire features a high working range compound, capable of maximum performance at higher temperatures. This is a very important combination of situations given that in Monte Carlo the weather and environmental conditions can be quite variable.

In Monte Carlo you almost always win starting from the front row, which makes qualifying even more important than usual. But even the fastest single-lap car can run into traffic, and finding the right window on the track often becomes the key factor.

A year ago Nico Rosberg won with his Mercedes starting from pole position and with a two pit-stop strategy (supersoft-soft-supersoft) at the end of a GP characterized by two safety car entries, one of which guaranteed the majority of drivers a 'gifted' pit stop.