Formula 1

Pirelli release driver tyre choices for Monaco Grand Prix

2 Mins read

Pirelli have released the individual tyre choices for each driver ahead of the 2016 Monaco Grand Prix, and the Italian tyre manufacturer’s newest ultra-soft compound is definitely flavour of the month!

The three tyre compounds nominated by the Italian tyre manufacturer for the Monaco Grand Prix weekend, are the yellow walled soft tyre, the red walled super soft and the purple walled ultra-soft, which gets its first outing this season and in F1.

Below are the individual driver tyre choices for the Monaco Grand Prix:

TCF - Monaco tyres resize

Credit: Pirelli

Mercedes AMG PETRONAS and Scuderia Ferrari have gone with only slightly different variations, the current world champions having chosen to take one set of the soft, two sets of the super-soft and ten sets of the ultra-soft, whereas the Maranello based squad have selected two sets of the soft compound and one more set of the super-soft tyre than the German marque.

With the Monte Carlo street circuit being less power dependent than most tracks seen on the F1 calendar, as well as yielding low tyre wear, the new ultra-soft compound has been in high demand.

Both Red Bull Racing drivers have chosen the same tyre strategy as Mercedes, which is the most aggressive direction seen for the Monaco race weekend, as has Renault Sport F1’s Kevin Magnussen. Team-mate Jolyon Palmer meanwhile has opted to bring three super-soft and nine sets of the ultra-soft tyres. The Haas F1 drivers have also gone with the same strategy as the Brit.

The most conservative selections have come from the Manor Racing team, whose drivers have both gone for two sets of the soft tyre, five sets of the super soft and six sets of the ultra-soft tyre. Sahara Force India drivers Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg, and Toro Rosso’s Daniil Kvyat and Carlos Sainz are also erring on the side of caution with three sets of the soft tyre, three sets of the super-soft tyre and seven sets of the ultra-soft compound. Could a one stop strategy potentially be on the cards?

The McLaren F1 team has gone for more of an equal spread of the softer tyre options, with just one set of the soft tyre allocated, alongside five sets of super-soft and seven sets of the ultra-soft tyre. Whilst Williams Martini Racing drivers Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa have gone for two sets of the soft compound, four sets of super-soft and seven sets of the new ultra-soft tyre.

The Sauber F1 team has chosen to bring one set of the soft, four sets of the super soft and eight sets of the ultra-soft tyre compound.

Again we can see a good variation in tyre options between the majority of drivers and teams, although the three current top runners have all picked similar options. This can still allow for some strategic differences during the course of the race however, at a track where strategy and qualifying will be the key to a strong race on the Sunday.

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