Formula 1 teams have loaded up on Ultrasoft tyres for next weekend’s returning French Grand Prix.
The championship is returning to France after a decade-long absence, with Paul Ricard set to host its first F1 event since 1990.
Sole supplier Pirelli has nominated the Ultrasoft, Supersoft and Soft compounds in order to cope with the demands of the circuit.
It is one of three circuits in 2018 where Pirelli has opted for a thinner tyre tread, along with Barcelona and Silverstone.
Of the 13 sets of tyres available, Mercedes’ and Ferrari’s drivers will have nine sets of the purple-banded compound, while their Red Bull rivals will have seven sets.
Red Bull’s approach is the most conservative, with the bulk of teams opting for eight or nine sets, aside from Williams, which has plumped for 10 batches of the compound.
As per usual, one set of the Ultrasoft must be cast aside for use only in Q3, while either the Supersoft or Soft must be run for one stint of the race, assuming dry conditions prevail.
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