Jul 30

Jul 30 Lack of tyre data opens strategy options as rain clears for Belgian Grand Prix

Formula One tyre manufacturer Pirelli says teams are lacking enough data to make accurate strategy calls as the rain clears up over the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix.

Drivers line up in the pit lane on Saturday at Spa. *(Pirelli)*

Weather forecast for Stavelot, Belgium, ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix. *(Morecast / UBIMET)*

Weather provider UBIMET says there is a just a 12% chance of rain for the grand prix, with just 0.3mm predicted to fall over the two-hour window for the Belgian race.

Mario Isola, head of motorsport at Pirelli, says that while teams have plenty of data about the wet tyres after running them in qualifying as well as the sprint shootout and sprint race, they lack any useful data on the dry compounds.

Mario Isola at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. *(Pirelli)*

“If it does not rain, then they will all have to base their strategy simulations on data gathered from past races at this track and on how the trio of available compounds have behaved in the first part of this season,” said Isola.

“We are doing exactly that ourselves and at the moment all we can do is confirm our earlier prediction, which indicated there was not much difference between a one stop or a two stop. And, without much information, this becomes an even finer line, so there is a bigger chance of some surprises tomorrow."

The 44-lap race is underway at 11pm on Sunday (AEST), with Charles Leclerc on pole ahead of Sergio Perez after championship leader Max Verstappen was slapped with a grid penalty.

Pirelli says that there is not much difference between a one- or two-stop strategy, with a full range of tyres available to most drivers after running intermediate and wet tyres in most other sessions.

The two-stopper would be a balance of the medium and soft compounds, while the one-stop strategy would require drivers to change onto the hard compound around a third of the way into the race.

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