Formula 1 tyre supplier Pirelli is expecting a ‘straightforward’ one stop strategy to be the favoured approach during this weekend’s Russian Grand Prix.
Teams have traditionally run one-stop strategies due to the low-grip, low-degradation nature of the Sochi Autodrom, with Nico Rosberg last year triumphing on a Super Soft/Soft approach.
Pirelli has moved one step softer with its three available compounds compared to last year’s corresponding event, though this is negated by the more durable nature of its 2017 rubber.
Drivers completed long runs during practice on Friday on the Ultra Soft and Super Soft tyres, with the compounds demonstrating little sign of degradation.
“There’s a gap of around a second between each compound, which is about the target we established at the beginning of the year,” said Pirelli’s Head of Car Racing Mario Isola.
“Super Softs and Ultra Softs are the tyres that we expect to feature in qualifying and the race here.
“Although the track is slightly rougher than it was last year, as a result of normal asphalt evolution, it’s still very smooth and slippery, which keeps degradation low.
“Consequently we can expect a relatively straightforward one-stop race on Sunday, starting on Ultra Softs and moving onto Super Softs.”
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