Pirelli's Bold Tire Strategy for Brazil GP

Pirelli F1 selects tires for races in Austin, Mexico, and Brazil, opting for a riskier choice in Interlagos.

Pirelli has informed the ten teams competing in the Formula 1 World Championship about the tire compounds available for the long American leg of the season, featuring three races across three different countries on consecutive weekends, two in North America and one in South America.

For the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix, scheduled in Austin from October 18 to 20, the following compounds will be used: C2 as the hard, C3 as the medium, and C4 as the soft, the same selection as last year.

The cities of Mexico (October 25-27) and Sao Paulo (November 1-3) will both use the three softest compounds in the range: C3 as the hard, C4 as the medium, and C5 as the soft.

While the choice for the circuit dedicated to the memory of the Rodriguez brothers, Pedro and Ricardo, remains the same as in 2023, the shift to the Interlagos track marks a change. In Brazil in 2023, teams could use the C2 as the hard, the C3 as the medium, and the C4 as the soft. The hardest of these was never used, with all drivers conducting a two-stop race alternating between medium and soft.

A shift to a softer compound should therefore offer more strategic options. Additionally, resurfacing work is ongoing at the Brazilian circuit, adding another layer of uncertainty. Thus, Friday’s practice becomes more crucial than ever to assess tire behavior, keeping in mind that grip levels will rapidly evolve throughout the weekend.