Picture by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Photographs
Max Verstappen surprised the sphere to take pole place for the Components 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
However the job shouldn’t be carried out for the Pink Bull driver.
He, together with everybody else, spent Saturday evening in Jeddah pouring via the info to give you one of the best tire technique choices for Sunday’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
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Let’s run via the choices.
What occurred on the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix?
Final season’s race on the Jeddah Corniche Circuit was a somewhat boring affair.
Not solely was it the second race of the 2024 F1 season — when Pink Bull and Max Verstappen have been at their most dominant — however Lance Stroll’s crash on Lap 7 introduced out an early Security Automotive and introduced the grid into the pits. With many of the discipline beginning on the medium C3 compound, many of the grid switched to the C2 onerous compound, operating the remainder of the way in which on that tire.
Some drivers went with a distinct technique, most notably Lando Norris, Nico Hülkenberg, and Lewis Hamilton. These three began on the medium compound however stayed out when Stroll’s crash introduced out the Security Automotive, choosing up observe place and betting on extra chaos.
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However when that intervention by no means arrived, all three dipped into the pits within the closing phases to make their necessary tire change. Hülkenberg made his cease on Lap 33 and switched to a set of onerous tires, finally ending tenth.
Subsequent to pit was Hamilton, who stopped on Lap 36. Stopping that late allowed Hamilton to go the gap on the mushy tire, which was the identical technique Norris used, who pitted a lap in a while Lap 37. Each drivers completed inside the highest ten, however couldn’t get by rookie tremendous sub Oliver Bearman, who was making his debut for Ferrari instead of Carlos Sainz Jr. and was operating on the onerous tires that the staff bolted on throughout his cease underneath the Security Automotive.
What are the advisable methods this yr?
Once more, Pirelli expects this race to be a one-stop affair. Final yr the medium-hard technique was the popular format, and that’s seemingly the bulk strategy this yr.
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Notably, Pirelli has gone a step softer with the tires this yr, choosing the C3, C4, and C5 compounds. So whereas final yr the groups that went medium-hard used the C3 after which the C2, this season that strategy would use the C4 and the C3.
Nevertheless, the tires have held up nicely on the Jeddah Corniche Circuit this week, and whereas Pirelli thought going a step softer with the compounds would convey a two-stop technique into play, they concede that the strong nature of the tires this yr means a one-stop remains to be on the desk.
“From what now we have seen thus far, bringing a step softer trio of compounds has not considerably altered the general image,” stated Mario Isola, Pirelli’s Director of Motorsport, after observe on Friday. “From the few significant lengthy runs within the second session, we noticed not a lot graining, and that solely on some vehicles. Moreover, it was clear right now that this phenomenon remained largely the identical from one session to the subsequent, which suggests it could possibly be an element to think about with regards to managing degradation through the race.
“By way of lap instances, the degradation stage was primarily much like final yr’s, or maybe simply barely increased. Subsequently, it’s onerous to see there being a serious change in technique, with the one-stop on paper the quickest route, whereas the two-stop is a little more aggressive than earlier than however not sufficiently so to be a legitimate different.”
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As you’ll be able to see within the under desk from the official F1 web site, a medium-hard technique sees the pit window open round Lap 16 to Lap 22, pushing the remainder of the way in which on the onerous tire:
However additionally, you will word another potential methods, which we’ll talk about briefly order.
What can Lando Norris strive from P10?
Let’s begin with the present chief within the Drivers’ Championship standings.
Lando Norris entered Saturday’s qualifying session as the favourite for pole place, given his efficiency over three observe classes and the relative energy of the MCL39.
However a wobble into Flip 4 early in Q3 noticed Norris find yourself within the wall, ending any desires of pole place.
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The McLaren driver will begin tenth and would possibly have to roll the technique cube if he’s going to threaten for a podium, given how overtaking has confirmed tough in Jeddah the previous few seasons.
Norris may choose to start out on the softs, placing the softer compound to make use of over an early push stint, after which make his cease round Lap 10 to Lap 16, going the remainder of the way in which on the onerous tire. That’s Technique 4, above, and with one set of latest mushy tires obtainable, this is perhaps his finest guess.
He may additionally flip the script on the medium-hard choice, begin on a set of the hards, and run so long as doable. Then pit round Lap 28 to 34 and use the softer medium compound, whereas the remainder of the grid round him might be on fading onerous tires.
What about drivers additional again within the discipline?
In Pirelli’s post-qualifying report, Isola famous one thing somewhat fascinating. A number of drivers have two units of latest onerous tires remaining. Why would possibly this be?
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The chaos issue.
The Jeddah Corniche Circuit is likely one of the quickest avenue circuits on the planet, and the mixture of 27 corners, excessive speeds, and looming partitions punishes errors. Because the first Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in 2021, there was at the least one Security Automotive every year.
Isola believes the groups which might be getting into Sunday with two contemporary units of hards are betting on a couple of Security Automotive making an look.
“On the subject of methods, we don’t really feel the state of affairs has modified since yesterday and it’s no coincidence that, though it’s not but confirmed, the overwhelming majority of drivers, 15 of the 20 to be exact, have all saved two units of hards,” stated Isola in Pirelli’s post-qualifying report. “The C3 [hard] appears to supply one of the best efficiency and, with out an excessive amount of degradation a one-stop technique is on paper the quickest method, with the order medium-hard being favourite, pitting between Laps 14 and 20.
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“There are a few explanation why many have opted to save lots of two units of this [C3] compound: firstly to be prepared for any doable security automobile conditions, which have typically been seen at this observe and secondly, to have a backup in case there’s a big step up in degradation tomorrow.”
As you’ll see in a second 9 of the drivers within the prime ten have two contemporary units of onerous tires. Solely Carlos Sainz Jr., who begins sixth, has only one contemporary set of the C3 compound obtainable.
Close to the again of the grid two drivers — Jack Doohan in P17 and Hülkenberg in P18 — have two new units of onerous tires obtainable.
As Isola frames it, if it’s a must to change to a two-stop race due to Security Automotive conditions, it’s good to have two units of onerous tires obtainable.
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“It’s fascinating that groups determined to maintain each units of onerous,” stated Isola to the official F1 channel. “They shouldn’t be utilized in a standard state of affairs however we all know Security Automotive likelihood right here is kind of excessive, and if it’s a must to transfer from one cease to 2 stops, the onerous is one of the best tire.
“I’m not saying the mushy is totally out of the sport – but when it’s a must to match one other set with 15 laps remaining, onerous is best than mushy.”
You might see drivers like Doohan and Hülkenberg behind the grid begin on the softs, and doubtlessly roll the cube on a two-stop technique given they every have two units of the contemporary onerous tires obtainable.
What tires does every driver have obtainable?
This graphic from F1.com illustrates the tire compounds obtainable to every driver, with SN standing for “mushy new,” SU standing for “mushy used,” and so forth:
