Supersoft tyre and it's effect

[Forza Bianchi]

Would have posted this in the Monaco GP thread but I feel it applies to the next three races so deserves a thread of it's own.

Firstly, I don't really understand comments by Pirelli saying that two stops are possible, and then going on to say that the super soft tyre will only last for a maximum of ten laps. This would surely mean that the soft tyre will last about 30 laps?

It's not impossible to imagine that, given the tyre wear seen in previous years in Monaco, but if the super softs only last 10 laps here, what chance do they have at other circuits, and what about Canada?

The supersofts, based on testing were about 3 tenths faster than the softs, which really isn't much at all, however James Allen in his blog says that the supersoft will be 0.7 faster. The big difference comes from tyre wear, so we could see some midfield teams maybe starting the race on softs and going for a long 1st stint. If the frontrunners qualify on supersofts but fail to pull a gap before the tyres "fall off the cliff", they could get stuck behind others on softs, and we get a more interesting race.

What are your thoughts on the potential use of the supersoft tyre in the coming races/qualifying?

 

[BrightLampShade]

If I was a front runner I'd qualify on the softs (not super softs). Then again I'm sitting at a keyboard so if I get it wrong not much happens

 

[DHCanary]

Maybe not at Monaco, but if the difference is only 3 tenths, then I'd definitely expect the Mclarens and Red Bulls to be able to get away with softs rather than supersofts!

 

[Sportydan]

Forza i dont know if i have said hello to you yet, but hello .., your writing some good stuff .

On the story of the super softs, i think the super softs are a too degradable for the Canadian grand prix, its alright to use them at street circuits, but i not sure about them at Montreal.

Interesting looking at the European grand prix at Valencia, will feature the super soft and medium, this will leave a big option open for strategies

Monaco Grand Prix Soft Super soft
Canadian Grand Prix Soft Super soft
European Grand Prix Medium Super soft
British Grand Prix Hard Soft

 

[u408379965]

I thought the difference in testing was about a second, but Pirelli said they were going to firm them up a bit so they last a bit longer so 7 tenths sounds about right to me.

Vettel did a 16 lap stint on the softs on Sunday (which I believe was key to him winning the race, although that's another story) by mileage that's 22 laps of Monaco, and Monaco demands a lot less of the tyres than Barcelona so 30 isn't out of the question.

This obviously poses a massive problem to the frontrunners. If they pit after nine laps (ten minus their quali lap) and come out behind a Sauber or Force India which started on the primes they're going to be in a real pickle.

 

[Forza Bianchi]

Forza i dont know if i have said hello to you yet, but hello .., your writing some good stuff .

Hello!

On your point about Canada, the tyre choices are very peculiar.

Supersoft and Soft ... 7 pit stops maybe? I can't see supersofts lasting more than a lap @ Canada.

Have Pirelli not watched previous races at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve?

 

[DHCanary]

I guess Red Bull will stick with their strategy so far though, pole in quali, blow everyone out of the water with a blistering few opening laps, and then have a pit stop window allowing them to come out in about P5? Didn't work in the last 2 races, but we'll see.

 

[Sportydan]

I guess Red Bull will stick with their strategy so far though, pole in quali, blow everyone out of the water with a blistering few opening laps, and then have a pit stop window allowing them to come out in about P5? Didn't work in the last 2 races, but we'll see.

Send that in an email to ferrari, they haven't cracked it yet

 

[Masanari]

I am seriously worried they are going to run out of tyres in Canada.

 

[BrightLampShade]

Monaco is all about traffic. Its no good if your on pole when you have to pit early into traffic. Its all about timing and the harder of the 2 tyres will give you more time to hold back for a gap in the traffic.

 

[DHCanary]

I was seriously surprised they went with the tyres they have for Montreal, although I read in an autosport article I've posted elsewhere that the reason for the degradation is the low grip surface??

The theory goes that when the surface offers little grip, then the tyres are more likely to spin (and not grip the surface) which wears the tyre down more quickly. Obviously the tyre spins more frequently when it inherently has low grip (ie the hard tyre) so theoretically the soft tyres should last longer than the hard ones? I'm dubious, but I believe thats the logic.

 

[Masanari]

I was seriously surprised they went with the tyres they have for Montreal, although I read in an autosport article I've posted elsewhere that the reason for the degradation is the low grip surface??

The theory goes that when the surface offers little grip, then the tyres are more likely to spin (and not grip the surface) which wears the tyre down more quickly. Obviously the tyre spins more frequently when it inherently has low grip (ie the hard tyre) so theoretically the soft tyres should last longer than the hard ones? I'm dubious, but I believe thats the logic.

If that turns out to be true Pirelli will look a whole lot smarter than Bridgestone.

 

[DHCanary]

If that turns out to be true Pirelli will look a whole lot smarter than Bridgestone.

I'm very intrigued, but equally, would love it if they discover they've turned up with a tyre that goes off after half a lap!

 

[Sportydan]

It is just me or is that Paul Hembery from Pirelli a real nice straight and honest chap.

 

[DHCanary]

I've had that thought too Sportydan, at least it's nice to get comments from the tyre supplier, I can't recall Bridgestone ever commenting unless something went wrong.