Brazilian GP: Pirelli Grand Prix Preview
By Courtesy of Pirelli
November 7 2017
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Pirelli Brazilian Grand Prix Preview |
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For the penultimate round of the
Formula 1 season, Pirelli brings the P Zero White medium, P Zero Yellow soft
and P Zero Red supersoft tyres, marking the final appearance of the medium
compound in 2017.
Interlagos is one of the shortest but most intense laps of the year, both in
terms of physical demands and atmosphere. There’s a succession of high-speed
corners, constant changes in elevation, and a local climate that is capable
of both intense heat and heavy rain. Once again, the tyre nomination for
Brazil is softer than it has been in the past, with the medium now the
hardest compound available.
THE CIRCUIT FROM A TYRE POINT OF VIEW
- The track was resurfaced relatively recently, which ironed out some of the
famous Interlagos bumps.
- The second-shortest lap of the season (after Monaco) means cars are not
only nearly always turning, but also going off-line to overtake.
- The track runs anti-clockwise, with the right-rear tyre doing the most
work in Brazil.
- The rapid series of corners and high-energy loads put quite high demands
on tyres.
- Tyres are also frequently subjected to combined lateral and longitudinal
forces.
- Unusually, Lewis Hamilton won last year in rainy conditions without making
a racing pit stop, although he did take a fresh set of wets under a red
flag.
- In 2015, the top three stopped three times. |
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MARIO ISOLA - HEAD OF CAR
RACING
“As we saw at the last round in Mexico as well, for Brazil we are again
bringing a softer tyre nomination than last year – when the hard was
selected – so this is likely to lead to some of the fastest-ever laps of
Interlagos this weekend. With a short lap, plus plenty of pit stops and
overtaking, as well as a passionate Brazilian crowd and the potential for
extremes of weather, this is normally a frenetic race where the strategic
timing of stops is very important to try and minimise the effects of
traffic. While we’ve gone a step softer this year, no driver has selected
more than one set of the mediums, which means that the weekend will be
centred around the soft and supersoft compounds.”
WHAT’S NEW?
- The supersoft comes to Brazil for the first time since Pirelli entered
Formula 1.
- Force India and Sauber completed a dedicated Pirelli tyre test for 2018
after the Mexican Grand Prix, with Alfonso Celis and Charles Leclerc driving
respectively.
- Several top drivers have been announced for the Pirelli-equipped FIA GT
World Cup in Macau next weekend, including former F1 driver (and Pirelli
tester) Lucas di Grassi.
- Pirelli’s European Junior Rally Champion Chris Ingram dominated the
two-wheel drive class on Wales Rally GB recently, using Pirelli Scorpion
gravel tyres. |
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