F1 Monaco GP: Pirelli reveals the ideal qualifying tyre strategy
For years—if not decades—the Formula 1 paddock has agreed on one thing about Monaco: qualifying is the most important session of the entire weekend.
On a circuit where overtaking opportunities are extremely limited, securing a strong grid position often determines the outcome of the race. That is why teams have spent the three practice sessions experimenting with different tyre preparation methods, searching for the perfect formula ahead of Saturday afternoon’s all-important qualifying session.
Some teams opted for multiple preparation laps before attempting a flying lap, while others ran with slightly higher fuel loads to complete one warm-up lap followed by several consecutive push laps. The reduced influence of the MGU-K on outright lap performance this season has also encouraged teams to explore different approaches to energy management and tyre preparation.
According to Pirelli Chief Engineer Simone Berra, qualifying in Monaco will largely come down to one key factor: preparing the tyres correctly during the out lap.
Tyre preparation will be the key to qualifying success
“What will be decisive is tyre preparation during the out lap. Obviously, we have seen different approaches. Teams have carried out several experiments, so to speak, but I believe that for all compounds it was very beneficial to complete a preparation lap before pushing. In some cases, we even saw drivers attempt two consecutive flying laps.”
“This helps keep the tyres within the correct operating window. We did not observe significant degradation between the first and second flying lap, and some teams were even able to improve on their second attempt. For that reason, I think teams will probably carry a little more fuel during qualifying and try to stay on track for as long as possible.”
The comments reflect one of the most interesting trends observed during practice. Monaco’s traditionally low tyre degradation, combined with the circuit’s recent resurfacing work in several sections, means drivers can extract performance from the tyres over multiple push laps without suffering a significant loss of grip.
Finding the right tyre temperature will be Monaco’s biggest challenge
Pirelli’s data suggests that balancing front and rear tyre temperatures during the preparation lap will be one of the most difficult tasks teams face.
While generating rear tyre temperature is helped by the many traction zones around the circuit, bringing the front tyres into their optimal operating window remains a significant challenge due to the lack of high-speed corners.
“Regarding the preparation lap, it is all about balancing the two axles. Obviously, with the new tyre blankets we have discussed in recent races, which dissipate heat more quickly, the rear axle also needs to be kept within the correct operating window. In practice, you need to work on both axles. That said, it is much easier to bring the rear tyres up to temperature than the fronts. It is always about finding the right balance and making sure both axles can deliver maximum performance. This will probably be the most difficult challenge for teams during qualifying.”
“Monaco is always complicated because traffic and the characteristics of the circuit do not help. There are no high-speed corners, so it is really difficult to generate tyre temperature. For the rear axle, traction phases help considerably, but in some cases they are not enough.”
“If you leave the pits with temperatures that are too low, you start losing the rear of the car. In some cases, you see sudden oversteer. Furthermore, you only generate temperature on the surface layer of the tyre and not within its internal structure, which is not ideal. If the rear tyres are not in the correct temperature window, you cannot generate the right level of grip.”
Traffic could shape qualifying strategy for every team
Alongside tyre temperatures, traffic is expected to play a major role in determining the outcome of qualifying.
With 22 cars now competing on Monaco’s narrow streets, finding clean air will be more difficult than ever. As a result, Pirelli expects most teams to converge on a similar strategy: carrying more fuel, completing a preparation lap and then attempting multiple consecutive flying laps rather than returning to the pits for fresh tyres.
The approach offers several advantages. It minimizes the risk of encountering traffic during repeated out laps, allows drivers to build confidence, and takes advantage of Monaco’s exceptionally low tyre degradation: “Traffic will also have a major effect. This year there are two additional cars, so it will be much more difficult to find clean air and achieve the best lap time. Everything will be important: tyre temperatures, traffic, finding the correct operating window, completing a preparation lap and attempting two consecutive flying laps. Teams will therefore try to extend their stints as much as possible.”
“Another factor we know very well is driver confidence. Lap after lap they increase their confidence, they get closer and closer to the walls, and for that reason they often prefer to stay on track and find the limit rather than return to the pits for a new set of tyres.”
In a Monaco qualifying session where every thousandth of a second matters, tyre preparation, traffic management and driver confidence could ultimately prove just as important as outright car performance. That is why teams are expected to maximise track time and carefully manage their tyres, knowing that pole position could very well decide the Grand Prix before the race even begins.
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