Photo Credit: Pirelli
Pirelli have announced that the inaugural Indian Grand Prix at the end of the October shall be run using the PZero Silver hard tyre and the PZero Yellow soft tyre.
As Formula 1 steps into the unknown at the brand-new Buddh Circuit near Delhi, these compounds have been chosen by Pirelli to cater for every eventuality and and strategy. Initial impressions have suggested that the new tarmac will be quite abrasive and high temperatures are expected.
The Italian tyre company will also reverse the usual convention in which the harder compound is nominated as the prime and the softer as the option. Therefore, in India, the teams will get one more set of the soft tyre for use in FP1, whereas at most races the harder tyre is used during the Friday morning practice session.
The PZero White medium tyre will partner the ubiquitous soft tyre for the final two races in Abu Dhabi and Brazil.
These allocations mean that the yellow soft tyre will have been used at every race this season.
“India is a big unknown for all the teams and ourselves, so we will also be taking the most durable hard tyre in order to cover every base,” explained Paul Hembery, Pirelli Motorsport Director. “Abu Dhabi is much more familiar territory for us, where we know that the medium and the soft tyre will suit the circuit well. As for Interlagos, we're aiming to end the season on a high. The combination of medium and soft rubber has given us some close racing in the past, lots of overtaking and provided some good opportunities for interesting pit stop strategies.”
