Brazilian GP: Pirelli Grand Prix Preview
By Courtesy of Pirelli
November 12 2019
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Pirelli Brazilian Grand Prix Preview |
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For the penultimate race of the
season, Formula 1 remains in the American continent for the Brazilian Grand
Prix, at the iconic Interlagos venue where so many stories from Formula 1
history have been written. This year, Pirelli takes the C1 as the White hard
tyre, the C2 as the Yellow medium, and the C3 as the Red soft. This is the
hardest possible combination of compounds, and a step harder from what was
chosen for Brazil last year. |
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TRACK CHARACTERISTICS
* In 2018, the medium, soft and supersoft tyres were nominated. Despite a
tyre nomination that is slower on paper this year, we’re likely to see
faster lap times – as has already been the case at several races this year –
thanks to the continual evolution of the cars.
* The harder tyre choice for this year in Brazil is designed to limit
degradation, and so help drivers to push more during each stint.
* The weather characteristics of Interlagos are among the most random of the
year. In the past, we’ve seen some of the hottest track temperatures of the
season, well in excess of 55 degrees centigrade – and also torrential rain.
* The asphalt was entirely resurfaced in 2014 and it’s now had plenty of
time to mature: it was also cleaned thoroughly with high pressure water jets
last year. As a result, it’s about average when it comes to roughness and
presents no particular challenges in terms of the actual surface.
* Interlagos contains 15 corners within the second- shortest lap of the
year, which means that there aren’t many long corners, keeping the lateral
demands quite low. The front-right tyre is worked the hardest on this
anti-clockwise track.
* A one-stopper was the winning strategy last year, with Lewis Hamilton
going from supersoft to medium. But there was lots of variation, with three
different tactical approaches from the three leading teams and five
different strategies in the top six. |
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MARIO ISOLA - HEAD OF CAR
RACING
“Interlagos is nearly always an exciting grand prix, where there’s plenty
going on: the compact track means that there’s generally quite a lot of
overtaking, with drivers also having to go frequently off the racing line.
It’s corner after corner, which keeps the tyres busy, and it’s an old school
track with not much run off, so mistakes are generally punished. Add in the
variable weather and probability of safety cars as well, and this tends to
make for an unpredictable weekend. You have to be prepared for everything:
we don’t know for sure yet which conditions we’ll be facing, but our choice
of the hardest tyres means that the teams will be able to push hard even if
they are running – as is likely – a one-stop strategy.”
OTHER PIRELLI NEWS
* During the same weekend as the Brazilian Grand Prix, Pirelli prepares for
one of its most important-ever engagements at Macau: supplying not only the
FIA GT World Cup but also the new-look Formula 3, which comes to Macau for
the first time for the World Cup, featuring many of the regular F3 drivers
who compete in the championship that supports Formula 1.
* Testing with 18-inch tyres continues both for Formula 1 and Formula 2.
McLaren tested the 2021 18-inch prototypes for two days at Paul Ricard in
France last week, completing 145 laps with both race drivers, while Formula
2’s 18-inch test campaign for next year continues this week in Spain.
* Brazil hosted a special F1 Fan Festival in Sao Paulo last weekend,
honouring Ayrton Senna – who died in May 25 years ago. Fans will be able to
see some special cars from Senna’s history, including the 1984 Toleman
(originally on Pirelli tyres) that Senna started his Formula 1 career in. |
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