Formula 1 tyre supplier Pirelli has outlined the possible strategy options for the Spanish Grand Prix.
Pirelli has brought the three hardest compounds – the C1s, C2s and C3s – in order to deal with the demands placed upon the rubber by the high-energy Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
All of the top nine drivers on the grid, along with the penalised Daniel Ricciardo, will start on the Soft tyres, while the remaining racers have free choice of starting compound.
“The quickest strategy on paper for the 66-lap race is a two-stopper,” confirmed Pirelli.
“Start on the Soft tyre for 22 laps, do another Soft stint for 23 laps, then Medium to the end.”
Pirelli nonetheless cautioned that “teams will probably aim for a one-stopper though, especially as it’s quite hard to overtake at Barcelona.
“The theoretically fastest one-stopper is: start on the Soft tyre for 27 laps (managing it carefully) and then switch to the hard until the finish.
“A less marginal strategy – which is quite close anyway on overall race time – is to start on the medium for 30 laps, then switch to the hard for the final 36 laps. However, nobody in the top 10 of the grid will be able to try this.”
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