Formula 1: tyre selections confirmed by Pirelli for pre-summer break races. Pirelli announces the tyre compounds for the F1 Grands Prix from Austria to Hungary.

In addition to focusing on testing tyres for next season in Barcelona, Pirelli has announced on its website the trio of compounds that will be used in the four Grands Prix following Canada: Austria, Great Britain, Belgium and Hungary.

Grands Prix of Austria and Great Britain
After the overseas trip, the Circus returns to Europe from June 27 to 29 at the Red Bull Ring. In Spielberg, Pirelli will supply the ten teams with the C3 (Hard), C4 (Medium) and C5 (Soft) compounds. This trio has already been used in Melbourne—although that race was affected by rain—as well as in Jeddah and Miami, three circuits quite different from the short and “angular” Austrian layout.

The following week, the championship crosses the English Channel and heads to Silverstone, the cradle of Formula 1 and a much longer, tyre-demanding circuit than the previous one. Here, Pirelli has opted for the C2, C3 and C4 trio, a softer selection compared to last year. On that occasion, in addition to the glorious triumph of Sir Lewis Hamilton, the soft tyre disappointed in terms of performance during the final fourteen laps. It’s also worth noting that this same combination of compounds was used in Shanghai, another long track with abrasive asphalt.

Grands Prix of Belgium and Hungary
After a three-week break, engines will roar back to life on the weekend of July 27 at the longest track on the calendar: Spa-Francorchamps. In Belgium, the hardest tyre provided will be the C1, while the yellow and red tyres will be C3 and C4—an unprecedented trio for this year. The decision was made to promote varied strategies, considering that last year the hard compound was the C2 and all drivers, except the disqualified winner George Russell, opted for two pit stops.

Lastly, the final event before the true summer break in August will take place in the first three days of the month at the Hungaroring. Here, the compounds brought by Pirelli will be the same as in Spielberg—C3, C4 and C5. Both circuits are relatively short, but they differ significantly in layout and overtaking opportunities, with the Hungarian track clearly at a disadvantage in this respect. Timing the pit stops correctly will therefore be crucial, in the hope of avoiding embarrassing situations like McLaren experienced last year.

All that remains now is to wait and see whether Pirelli’s compound choices for these Grands Prix prove to be effective and whether these events will offer fans some thrilling races.