Following the Singapore event, Formula 1 will be back on track this week in the Land of the Rising Sun at Suzuka. As is the case every week, Pirelli has announced which tire compounds will be available to each team.
The tire compounds chosen for the weekend are the C1 (which for this weekend will be the P Zero White hard), the C2 (P Zero Yellow medium), and the C3 (P Zero Red soft). The teams, only for this leg of the championship, will have access to thirteen sets of tires divided as follows: two sets of hard tires, three sets of mediums, and eight sets of softs per car, in addition to the usual provision of Cinturato intermediates and full wets. They will also have two additional sets of tires for the first two free practice sessions to conduct tests on the compounds that will debut in the future. This is an extreme choice by the Italian manufacturer but justified by the loads generated on the tires by the track. It’s not a coincidence that very hard tire compounds have been selected. It’s worth noting that the 2023 Pirelli range goes from C0 – the hardest compound – to C5, the softest.
Minimum starting pressures (slick tires)
Front: 25.0 psi
Rear: 23.0 psi
Maximum camber
Front: -2.75°
Rear: -1.50°
Mario Isola – Pirelli Motorsport Director
“The Japanese Grand Prix takes place on one of the most fascinating and challenging circuits in Formula 1 history: Suzuka, with its unique figure-eight layout. This historic track is a favorite among drivers and is absolutely thrilling to drive with today’s ultra-competitive single-seaters.”
“With its significant lateral and vertical loads, Suzuka is as demanding on the tires as it is on the drivers. These demands are evenly distributed across all four wheels, with 10 right-hand and eight left-hand turns over the six-kilometer lap. Due to these challenging characteristics, we are bringing some of the hardest tires from the 2023 range to Japan: C1, C2, and C3. This choice is only nominally similar to last year’s, due to the new C1 compound introduced this season to fit between C2 and the previous C1 (now called C0). On Friday, all teams will have the opportunity to test a new version of the C2 compound, with a view to homologation for next season. This latest evolution should provide better grip compared to the current C2, fitting more consistently between the C1 and C3. For the first two free practice sessions, each driver will have two additional sets of tires available, in addition to the usual 13 sets for the weekend. This test is part of a development program that has recently been defined for 2024 and will continue with a new C4 compound that will be tested on the track during the Mexican Grand Prix weekend.”
Track Characteristics
Suzuka will see the teams equipped with the C1 tires, denoted as P Zero White hard, the C2 tires as P Zero Yellow mediums, and the C3 tires as P Zero Red softs.
The Japanese Grand Prix could bring forth unexpected developments, owing to the recent high temperatures, reaching up to 33 degrees Celsius last week. If this weather pattern persists, tire degradation might emerge as a significant factor.
Historically, weather conditions have wielded substantial influence over the Japanese Grand Prix. On four occasions (2004, 2009, 2010, and 2019), qualifying had to be conducted on Sunday morning due to torrential rain or the looming threat of a typhoon.
In 2022, the race faced interruptions due to rain on the first lap. A restart took place three hours later, with just 45 minutes left to meet the maximum allowed race duration of four hours. During this time, drivers utilized only Cinturato intermediate and Full Wet tires.
The Suzuka circuit boasts one of the highest levels of roughness and abrasion seen throughout the season. Wear and degradation play crucial roles in determining the free practice plan as well as race strategy.
The Japanese Grand Prix, a fixture in the F1 World Championship, has witnessed 36 editions. Among them, 32 have been held at Suzuka, the home circuit of Honda, with the remaining four at Fuji, belonging to Toyota. McLaren stands as the most successful team with nine wins, while Michael Schumacher holds the record for the most victories by a driver, with six. Notably, in 1994 and 1995, the Pacific Grand Prix was also hosted in Japan, at the Aida circuit.
Over the years, the Japanese Grand Prix has crowned a new world champion 11 times. Most recently, Max Verstappen secured his second world title at this event last year. Another significant moment was in 1995 when Michael Schumacher clinched his second Formula One world championship following his victory in the Pacific Grand Prix.
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