German GP: Pirelli Grand Prix Review
By Courtesy of Pirelli
August 1 2016
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Pirelli German GP Grand Prix
Review |
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As expected
there were a number of different strategies in play at the German Grand
Prix, with mostly three stops seen and many teams splitting their race
strategies.
One of those teams was Mercedes, with race winner Lewis Hamilton alternating
the supersoft and soft tyre, whereas pole sitter Nico Rosberg started with
two sets of supersoft and then ended the race on two sets of soft. Another
variation was the case within Red Bull, as podium finishers Daniel Ricciardo
and Max Verstappen also chose different configurations of race strategy.
However, both Red Bull drivers ended the race on the supersoft compound in
order to take advantage of its additional speed.
Track temperature remained in the region of 38 degrees throughout the race:
similar to the conditions seen yesterday, despite a small threat of rain
right at the end. There were also a number of on-track battles further down
the order, with teams taking advantage of the different strategies at work
all the way to the finish.
The Hockenheim circuit was largely unchanged since last making an appearance
on the Formula 1 calendar in 2014, with quite old and bumpy asphalt that
proved to be reasonably demanding for the tyres. As a result, a number of
drivers adapted their strategies from two to three stops in order to
guarantee the pace they needed. The highest-placed two-stopper was Williams
driver Valtteri Bottas, who finished seventh.
Paul Hembery, Pirelli motorsport director: It was a race during
which strategy became very important. During the first laps with heavy fuel
we experienced higher thermal degradation than expected, and this led many
to select the three-stop strategy that we identified yesterday as being
theoretically fastest. It was very much a question of monitoring the wear
and degradation rates and thinking on their feet, in order to adapt the race
strategy to changing circumstances.
Truthometer: We thought that three stops would be the winning strategy,
which Hamilton, having benefitted from a good start and fast car which
enabled him to manage the race and his tyres. He made his pit stops on lap
14, 34, and 47, following the pattern that we had predicted. |
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Fastest times of the day by compound:
Medium Soft Supersoft
First VET 1m18.710s RIC 1m18.442s
Second HAM 1m18.746s VER 1m18.910s
Third ROS 1m19.122s HAM 1m19.452s
Longest stint of the race:
Soft Magnussen 34 laps
Supersoft Grosjean 23
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