Strategy guide for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix

Based on yesterday’s Sprint sprint, it appears that evidently there are a selection of various technique choices which are obtainable to the groups at right this moment’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix. F1Technical’s Balázs Szabó analyses the doable methods for right this moment’s 71-lap race at the Autodromo José Carlos Pace.

Pirelli has introduced the three compounds in the center of the vary to the Sao Paulo Grand Prix: C2 is the P Zero White exhausting, C3 is the P Zero Yellow medium, and C4 is the P Zero Red comfortable. The earlier two races in Austin and Mexico City used the similar choice, thus groups have loads of latest experiences with this tyre allocation.

However, issues haven’t been that plain and easy this weekend. The monitor that runs anti-clockwise and comprises 15 corners, locations medium lateral calls for on the tyres with excessive temperatures often including one other problem to tyre administration.

With this weekend that includes a dash format, drivers and groups had solely a single one-hour follow session to fine-tune their vehicles earlier than parc ferme circumstances kicked in in Friday’s qualifying session. Most of the drivers targeting setup work in the sole follow on Friday with solely Red Bull sacrificing the final a part of their session for a run on heavy gas load.

Saturday’s follow session then offered groups with the alternative of finishing lengthy runs on completely different gas masses, however they have been unable to make any important adjustments however changes to the entrance wing. However, the lengthy runs clearly confirmed that the red-walled comfortable compound offered higher grip and good sturdiness for the 24-lap dash sprint.

In distinction, the medium compound didn’t maintain on longer with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc even indicating that the C3 compound produced larger degradation than the C4 rubber. Despite the indications, reigning world champion Max Verstappen selected the yellow-walled compound for the Brazil F1 Sprint which turned out to be the fallacious alternative.

The experiences from the dash sprint signifies that the comfortable compound might turn out to be the most well-liked tyre for groups. However, issues may take one other flip right this moment with temperatures rising considerably larger than yesterday.

While the Sprint passed off in sunny circumstances with ambient temperatures between 22 and 23 levels centigrade and monitor temperatures between 31 and 34 levels, ambient temperatures might attain 29 levels centigrade right this moment. With the grand prix going down one and half an hour sooner than the Sprint, it might additionally result in larger monitor floor temperatures.

As far as the historical past is anxious, finally yr’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix, the drivers on the podium all stopped twice. Lewis Hamilton, the winner, completed the race on P Zero White exhausting forward of Max Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas on the similar compound.

Pirelli thinks that each the two-stop and the one-stop are legitimate choices for right this moment’s 71-lap race. However, the two-stopper appears to be the faster variation. There are two completely different two-stop methods on the desk.

One is to begin on the comfortable tyre earlier than two medium stints to the finish. An different is to begin on comfortable earlier than going onto medium after which ending the race on comfortable once more.

For these trying to a one-stopper, the alternative is to begin on medium or comfortable earlier than switching to the exhausting for an extended last stint. Those two choices are additionally very shut however beginning on the comfortable is maybe higher with a view to benefit from its efficiency in the early phases of the race.

Pirelli’s Motorsport Director Mario Isola commented: “It was an action-packed Sprint, particularly with all the overtaking that passed off all through the race. The glorious efficiency of the P Zero Red comfortable in free follow prompted the groups to pick out this compound for right this moment’s race, with a complete of 18 vehicles selecting the comfortable, which confirmed loads of tempo right here in Brazil.

„The battle between Max Verstappen and George Russell, on completely different compounds, was one in all the highlights. Today’s quick race signifies that it wasn’t doable to guage the efficiency of the medium tyre, which nonetheless appears very near the comfortable. As a consequence, there’s all kinds of methods doable for tomorrow, which ought to result in a fantastic present.”