Pirelli Motorsport are hoping to see all three compounds of tyre used during this Sunday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, after announcing its three softest options for the first time for the Baku City Circuit.
The last time Azerbaijan was on the calendar in 2019, the hard compound was not used at all, with all the teams opting to use either the soft or medium compounds. However, this year, the compounds in use are a step softer to what they were two years ago, and Pirelli are hoping that the decision to switch to the C3, C4 and C5 will open up the strategy options.
Mario Isola, the Head of F1 and Car Racing at Formula 1’s sole tyre supplier, says the strategy options around Baku should open up with these three compounds being used, and he hopes for an exciting weekend in Azerbaijan around a track where traction is important.
“From one unique circuit to another: Baku provides a very different test to Monaco, but the precision needed to stay out of trouble is similar,” said Isola. “For the first time we bring the very softest tyres in the range to Azerbaijan, as also seen in Monte Carlo.
“The reason for this nomination is that the hard wasn’t used at all in the Baku race in 2019, whereas the medium was used extensively. By re-aligning the nominations, we hope to see all three compounds playing an important role and leading to some different strategies.”
