Belgian GP: Pirelli Grand Prix Preview
By Courtesy of Pirelli
August 23 2016
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Pirelli Belgian Grand Prix Preview |
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Following a short summer break,
Formula 1 resumes at the one of the most epic drivers’ circuits of them all:
Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium. The P Zero medium, soft and supersoft tyres
have been nominated for the longest lap of the year at 7.004 kilometres,
which places high-energy loads through the tyres. Spa-Francorchamps in fact
provides a real multi-faceted challenge for the tyres, and by extension for
the teams and drivers as well. The historic circuit at the foothills of the
Ardennes is renowned for its changeable weather, meaning that there is a
true microclimate to provide a constant additional parameter for the
strategists to consider.
THE CIRCUIT FROM A TYRE POINT OF VIEW:
- Loads through the tyres are among the biggest of the year due to the long
and fast corners.
- Elevation changes also create vertical forces for tyres through
compressions like Eau Rouge.
- Rain is quite likely, but it frequently rains just on one part of the
circuit and not on another.
- Set-up is a compromise between low drag for straights and downforce for
corners: not easy.
- There are plenty of overtaking opportunities, which mean that strategy
options are quite open.
- F1 returns with yet another back-to-back: after Spa it’s straight to
Pirelli’s home race at Monza.
THE THREE NOMINATED COMPOUNDS:
- White medium: a mandatory set that must be available for the race, low
working range.
- Yellow soft: again a mandatory set, should feature in the race but not
ideal for long stints.
- Red supersoft: will be used for qualifying with a focus on performance
rather than durability.
HOW IT WAS A YEAR AGO:
- Lewis Hamilton won comfortably with a two-stop strategy, changing tyres on
laps 13 and 30.
- Best alternative strategy: Max Verstappen finished eighth from 18th on the
grid, having adopted a three-stop strategy and passing several cars on
track.
PAUL HEMBERY, PIRELLI MOTORSPORT DIRECTOR:
“Spa-Francorchamps needs no introduction as one of the most iconic circuits
out there. For the tyres, it’s a demanding track with the sort of
high-energy loads that make it absolutely thrilling to drive. It’s not easy
to find the right set-up but with such a long lap and plenty of overtaking
opportunities, there are a number of different strategy permutations
possible. During the summer break we’ve started testing the 2017-size tyres,
and we look forward to a busy second half of the season as we continue the
testing campaign and also move straight on to our home race the weekend
after Belgium.”
WHAT’S NEW?
- There are no significant changes to the Spa-Francorchamps circuit and
infrastructure this year.
- Esteban Ocon becomes a full-time Formula 1 driver, taking over from Rio
Haryanto at Manor.
OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE CAUGHT OUR EYE RECENTLY:
- Pirelli was at the forefront in Spa last month with the famous 24 Hours.
It was the Italian firm’s biggest-ever event with a total of 65 cars fitted
and 10,724 tyres over 29,269 cumulative laps.
- The 2017 tyre tests with modified mule cars got underway at the beginning
of the month, with Ferrari at Fiorano (driven by Sebastian Vettel and
Esteban Gutierrez on wets) and Red Bull at Mugello (driven by Sebastien
Buemi on slicks). |
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THE TYRE CHOICES SO FAR:
Purple Red Yellow White Orange
Australia Supersoft Soft Medium
Bahrain Supersoft Soft Medium
China Supersoft Soft Medium
Russia Supersoft Soft Medium
Spain Soft Medium Hard
Monte Carlo Ultrasoft Supersoft Soft
Canada Ultrasoft Supersoft Soft
Azerbaijan Supersoft Soft Medium
Austria Ultrasoft Supersoft Soft
Great Britain Soft Medium Hard
Hungary Supersoft Soft Medium
Germany Supersoft Soft Medium
Belgium Supersoft Soft Medium
Italy Supersoft Soft Medium
Singapore Ultrasoft Supersoft Soft
Malaysia Soft Medium Hard
Japan Soft Medium Hard
United States Supersoft Soft Medium
Mexico Supersoft Soft Medium
Brazil Soft Medium Hard
Abu Dhabi Ultrasoft Supersoft Soft
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