Pirelli outlines Japanese Grand Prix strategy options

Formula 1 tyre supplier Pirelli has outlined the strategy options for the Japanese Grand Prix, with a one-stop approach deemed likely.

Pirelli has brought the Supersoft, Soft and Medium tyres in order to cope with the demands placed upon the rubber by the high-lateral figure-of-eight Suzuka circuit.

Teams have preferred to run one-stop strategies for much of the year due to the relative durability of tyres, and the risk of getting stuck in traffic without the required delta to overtake.

Pirelli reckons a Soft/Medium approach, making a pit stop after 25 of 53 scheduled laps, is the quickest, with a Medium/Soft, stopping after 28 laps, equally as fast.

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A Supersoft/Medium strategy, coming in after 20 laps, is “quite close” in terms of race time.

A two-stop Supersoft/Soft/Soft strategy, of stint lengths 14, 19 and 20 laps, is deemed slower.

Front-row starters Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas will use Soft tyres for the opening stint of the race after using the yellow-banded compound in Q2.

Haas’ Romain Grosjean will use that approach while the remainder of the top nine on the grid, along with the sanctioned Esteban Ocon, must use Supersofts off the line.

The rest of the field are permitted free choice of tyre from the three nominated compounds.

Either the Soft or Medium tyres must be used for one stint of the Grand Prix, assuming dry conditions prevail.