Pirelli offers the softest tires in its range for the Monaco GP
F1 drivers will have the softest tires in the Pirelli range at their disposal this weekend for the Monaco Grand Prix, the seventh round of the 2022 world championship.
Barely a week after having used the hardest tires in the Pirelli range in Barcelona on a difficult circuit for rubber, the drivers will use this weekend in Monaco on an urban track the softest tires with the C3 (Hard) , C4 (Medium) and C5 (Soft). Due to the slippery asphalt of the Principality’s roads – used for the track (which are, by the way, open to traffic every evening) – and the low speeds called for, the tires are not particularly stressed in Monaco and the Wear and degradation are minimal, hence the choice of Pirelli for this seventh round of the year.
The one-stop strategy is generally the norm at Monaco, but there is a fairly wide pit stop window and stop times can be activated by the safety cars which very often come into action at this circuit in due to the limited number of escape routes. Although the teams are well aware of the challenges of such a layout, it is worth noting that this grand prix represents the debut in the Principality of the new generation of Formula 1 cars with 18-inch tires, so the teams will have to understand how they react in these unique conditions, also considering that the weather on the Mediterranean coast is sometimes difficult to predict at this time of the year.
” Monaco is often described as one of the most unpredictable races of the year, but the truth is that qualifying takes on a special meaning because at this track, track position is crucial. » explains Mario Isola, director of Pirelli, on the eve of the Monaco Grand Prix.
” Working out how to get the most out of the softer C5 compound, which has only been introduced at the Australian Grand Prix so far this year, will therefore be a key aspect of free practice. Since now the rule that required the 10 drivers to start the race with the tires with which they passed Q2 no longer exists, this year we could see different strategies. »
“Some riders may choose harder compounds at the start for a long first stint, given the difficulty in overtaking. Others, on the other hand, may choose a more traditional approach by mentioning by the most tender compound. In short, it’s a race in which strategy can really make the difference. »
Pirelli data for the Monaco GP