George Russell, from Mercedes AMG F1 W14, is leading Max Verstappen, from Red Bull Racing RB19, at the start of the race.
On April 2, 2023, the Formula 1 World Championship, Round 3, Australian Grand Prix, is taking place at Albert Park in Melbourne, Australia.
Pirelli has announced that they will bring their softest tire compounds for this weekend’s Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, including the C5 compound, rarely used.
This means that the C5 tire will make its competitive debut in the year 2024 at Albert Park.
Although the construction of the C5 tire has remained the same since 2023, teams only used the softest compound from Pirelli’s range for a total distance of 140km during the three days of pre-season testing in Bahrain.
During testing in Bahrain, Lewis Hamilton was the only driver to complete a full long lap on the C5 tire, while Williams mainly used the compound for installation laps.
In addition to the C5 tire, Pirelli will also provide the C4 and C3 constructions, creating a softer selection compared to last year’s event, where the C2, C3, and C4 tires were used.
Pirelli last brought the softest compound to Melbourne in 2022, along with the C2 and C3 tires, omitting the C4 tire.
The Italian tire manufacturer explained that their decision to opt for a softer selection was based on an analysis of last year’s race, which heavily relied on the C2 compound.
In 2023, 10 drivers used the C2 tire for 47 of the 58 laps, while three drivers completed over 50 laps on the compound. The race also featured three safety cars, three red flags, two standing starts, and one rolling start.
Historically, the Albert Park circuit has favored a one-stop strategy, but Pirelli expects that the introduction of a softer tire nomination will encourage a greater variety of strategies.
© 2024
