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Malaysian GP: Pirelli Grand Prix Preview

By Courtesy of Pirelli
September 26 2016

 
 Pirelli Malaysian Grand Prix Preview
 
Pirelli Tyres
 

About the only thing in common that the Malaysian Grand Prix has with the nearby Singapore Grand Prix that preceded it is humidity: around 80% humidity is a common occurrence, as a result of which there are tropical torrential downpours almost on a daily basis. The actual circuit however is totally different, with high speeds and long corners as well as high temperatures: one of the reasons why the three hardest compounds in the Pirelli range (P Zero Orange hard, P Zero White medium, and P Zero Yellow soft) have been nominated for the first time since Silverstone. For the first time since Canada, the hardest available compound must be used in the race (with two sets of hard nominated as obligatory sets). The track has been completely resurfaced, following a three-month closure earlier this year, which may mean that it is less abrasive than before: a typical characteristic of Sepang in the past.

THE CIRCUIT FROM A TYRE POINT OF VIEW:
- Track temperatures are nearly always high: it’s actually possible to fry an egg on the asphalt.
- In the past, wear and degradation has been high, making a multi-stop race likely.
- Heavy rain has often been a feature of the Malaysian Grand Prix, even causing red flags. It also means that any rubber laid down is washed away, affecting the weekend’s track evolution.
- Thermal degradation is an important factor, again due to high ambient and track temperatures.
- Sepang is a varied circuit but there are also some fast corners with high lateral energy loads.
- The new surface should mean that the track is a lot less bumpy.
- The front-left tyre gets worked hardest, which tends to be the limiting factor in stint lengths.

THE THREE NOMINATED COMPOUNDS:
- Orange hard: must be used in the race as two sets have been nominated as obligatory sets.
- White medium: should be key to a flexible strategy, which often pays off in Sepang.
- Yellow soft: a soft compound but high working range, which makes it very usable in Malaysia.

HOW IT WAS A YEAR AGO:
- Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel won with a two-stop strategy, starting on medium, switching to medium again on lap 17, then hard on lap 37. Track temperatures of 56 degrees were seen.
- Best alternative strategy: Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton used a three-stop strategy to finish second, having started from pole. Three stops were also used by his third-placed team mate.

PAUL HEMBERY, PIRELLI MOTORSPORT DIRECTOR:
“In terms of extreme conditions that provide a real test for the tyres, Malaysia is right up there with anything else we see all year. That’s because of the extremely high temperatures as well as the high energy loadings through the fast corners. The big unknown for this year is the track surface, which is completely new. The weather can also change in an instant, turning the track into a monsoon. As a result of all that, Sepang tends to be quite a varied weekend where track evolution is hard to follow. We’ve seen a high number of pit stops in the past and we would probably expect
multiple stops from most drivers again this year: this of course opens up an even wider array of variables when it comes to potential race strategies, now that teams have three compounds to choose from.”

WHAT’S NEW?
- There’s an entirely new surface, plus new drainage, new kerbs and redesigned gravel traps.
- Malaysia shifts calendar slot, moving from a March date last year to late September this year.
- The 2017 wider tyre test campaign continued last week, with Mercedes testing wet tyres in France.
- The track action starts on Thursday this year with the first GP2 session in the late afternoon.

OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE CAUGHT OUR EYE RECENTLY:
- The two title protagonists – Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg – have slightly different choices for Malaysia. Hamilton has an extra set of hards, while Rosberg has chosen more mediums
- Pirelli recently won the FIA European Rally Championship for the second consecutive season with Kajetan Kajetanowicz in Latvia, as well as the ERC2 category for R4 (Group N) cars.
- The Paris Motor Show takes place during the week of the Malaysian Grand Prix, with a number of prestige and premium cars making their debut using Pirelli as original equipment.

 

Pirelli Tyres
 
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
 
Pirelli Malaysia Preview
 

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