Pirelli Strategy Triumphs Despite Fragile Medium Tyres

One-Stop Gamble Pays Off as Pirelli Defies the Odds

22/10/2024

Pirelli’s unexpected one-stop strategy proved successful, overcoming fragile medium tires and defying pre-race predictions in Austin.

Pirelli praised the performance of the tires in Austin despite a track with severe loads and high temperatures. Mario Isola, the head of the F1 program for the manufacturer, noted that starting on hard tires was a good solution.

Pirelli also acknowledged the longest stints of the race: 40 laps for George Russell and Valtteri Bottas on hard tires, and 32 laps on mediums for Oscar Piastri.

“First of all, congratulations to Ferrari for their remarkable one-two finish in a country that has always been very important for the Prancing Horse. From a tire perspective, it was a very interesting Sunday due to the technical insights it provided,” Isola said.

“Based on previous data and what we learned during the Sprint, when the mediums showed a very high wear rate, combined with what we knew from last year’s race, a one-stop strategy didn’t seem viable. Yet, it turned out to be not only the winning strategy but also almost the only one adopted by the field.”

“As for the behavior of the mediums, the safety car following Hamilton’s off-track incident in the early stages allowed those who started on that compound to extend their stints while reducing tire stress in the crucial early laps, when cars run with heavy fuel loads.”

“There were two other factors to consider: the significant track evolution, with much of it resurfaced, leading to a major reduction in graining compared to what we saw in the Sprint, and the adjustments teams were able to make to their setups based on what they learned the day before.”

Pirelli Strategy Triumphs Despite Fragile Medium Tyres

Pirelli Strategy Triumphs Despite Fragile Medium Tyres Pirelli Strategy Triumphs Despite Fragile Medium Tyres

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