Pirelli cools concerns after calm, clean Jeddah Grand Prix

Despite hot track temps and softer tyres, Pirelli saw little drama in Jeddah, a race that played out as forecasted.

Oscar Piastri’s win at the Jeddah Grand Prix may have been the headline, but for Pirelli, the real story was the tires — or rather, how little trouble they caused.

The Italian tire supplier welcomed what it called a “normal” race in terms of tire performance, noting that degradation was minimal across the board. Despite hotter track temperatures — around 7°C higher than last year — and the use of softer compounds, teams stuck closely to expected strategies.

Esteban Ocon impressed with a near race-long stint on hard tires, running 49 of the 50 laps on the same set. Charles Leclerc led the way on mediums, managing 29 laps. Among the front runners, only Lando Norris rolled the dice by starting on hards.

“This Grand Prix played out just as we anticipated when it comes to tire behavior and strategy,” said Mario Isola, head of Pirelli’s Formula 1 program. “Even with softer compounds and warmer conditions, tire wear on the C3 and C4 was extremely low. The race unfolded naturally, reflecting the current balance between teams.”

Some cars did suffer from front-left blistering, but not enough to impact performance significantly. Overheating was an issue for a few, Isola admitted, but nothing unexpected: “This track doesn’t give the tires much chance to cool, so we knew that could be a factor.”

Now, the focus shifts to the United States, with Miami next on the calendar. It’ll be the season’s second Sprint weekend, on a track with very different demands — but Pirelli is sticking with the same tire selection used in Jeddah.

“We’ll be running the same compounds again, slightly softer than last year,” Isola added. “It’ll be interesting to see how teams adapt. Miami always brings surprises.”

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Pirelli cools concerns after calm, clean Jeddah Grand Prix Pirelli cools concerns after calm, clean Jeddah Grand Prix