Ferrari has taken a close look at the tyre situation ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix with one of its tyre engineers. “Cold temperatures and a low-grip surface are the main challenge,” he explained, outlining what the team will face on the Las Vegas Strip Circuit.
Ferrari tyre engineer Antonino Mazzola went into detail on the characteristics of the Las Vegas layout and the difficulties teams will encounter throughout the American weekend with the Pirelli tyres. The race takes place at night and features conditions unmatched elsewhere on the calendar, particularly in terms of tyre management.
The Ferrari engineer pointed out that the biggest challenge comes from the combination of cold temperatures and the lack of asphalt roughness. “The sessions take place in the evening and the low desert temperatures, combined with the smooth asphalt, represent the biggest challenge for tyre performance.”
This creates an immediate qualification problem: finding the right balance during the preparation lap, as bringing the tyres into the proper window is extremely difficult. “In qualifying you want the driver to push harder on the out-lap to get the tyres up to temperature,” he said. But there is a risk. “Doing so can quickly damage the tread surface, which is already fragile because of the cold, and you lose grip on the flying lap.”
The tyre detail that could benefit Ferrari during the Las Vegas GP
Because of this, using one or two preparation laps will not be an obvious choice. The work will revolve around finding the best balance between warm-up and degradation. The Ferrari engineer also analyzed how the Pirelli compounds are expected to behave in the race. In Las Vegas, the allocation will be C3, C4 and C5 — the three softest compounds.
“The combination of asphalt temperature, low roughness and Soft compounds is the perfect recipe for graining,” he explained. In fact, the phenomenon can compromise performance in just a few laps.
However, the engineer also highlighted a positive detail: “This year the tyres have shown greater resistance to graining compared to the past, and it will be important to take this into account during free practice.”
This year’s race will take place two hours earlier than in 2024 — a difference that should not be underestimated. “Starting earlier tends to make conditions less extreme and more predictable, thanks to slightly milder temperatures and a better rubbered-in track.” Even so, the engineer warned that the fundamental limitations will remain the same. “We do not expect a radical change compared to last year.”
For Ferrari, it will be essential to maximize Friday’s work. “It will be important to analyze in detail the data collected in free practice to optimize qualifying preparation and tyre management in the race.” The conditions of the Las Vegas Strip Circuit will make every strategic decision even more decisive. The ability to control warm-up, degradation and graining risk could ultimately decide the entire weekend.
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