Pirelli tweaks Melbourne tyre allocation to increase strategy options
Formula 1 tyre supplier Pirelli say they have learnt from the 2022 Australian Grand Prix in making their tyre choices for this year's event.
Sergio Perez on track at Albert Park on Friday. (Pirelli)
The Italian tyre manufacturer will provide teams with the C2, C3, and C4 tyres for the Australian Grand Prix, which are in the middle of the options available.
Motorsport director Mario Isola says they have learnt from the limited strategy options available to teams in last year's race, when Pirelli provided the C2, C3, and C5 tyres.
"We’ve made the same tyre choice as we did back in 2019 for the Australian Grand Prix," said Isola.
"Following a two-year absence from the calendar due to the COVID pandemic, we went for a gap in the nominated compounds last year: selecting the C2, C3 and then the softest C5 compound."
"That race was a one-stopper won by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, with all the teams using the hard and the medium tyre, while the soft was just used for qualifying."
Pirelli’s tyre selection for the Australian Grand Prix - click to expand. (Pirelli)
Isola and Pirelli believe that bringing the compounds options closer together will also promote closer racing.
The tyres available for the 2023 Formula 1 season are also one step softer than last year, meaning this year's selections should provide both more grip and higher degradation.
"This weekend, the teams will have the C2, C3, and C4 at their disposal, which means that they have more options for the race in terms of strategy: on paper at least," said Isola.
"We’re expecting a high degree of track evolution throughout the weekend, as is normally the case in Melbourne, while the energy demands on the tyres are about average for the season."
"It’s a flowing track with corners that are faster following last year’s modifications, which benefit overtaking as well as the overall spectacle."
Pirelli says that the asphalt at Albert Park is smoother than at other tracks, with peak grip "only achieved after several sessions of on-track running."
That is despite the track resurfacing in 2022, which included metallic elements in the aggregate to improve grip.
The new layout and fourth DRS zone have increased overtaking opportunities, which Pirelli believes should help favour cars setup to bias traction.
That level of setup difference may not matter to the dominance of Red Bull at the front of the field, but will certainly split drivers in the tight midfield battle.
