Pirelli Race Strategies: simulations show three-stop strategy is possible

Pirelli Race Strategies: simulations show three-stop strategy is possible | 2023 Hungary GP. Pirelli Race Strategies.

Yesterday’s qualifying session was very close, with the top three drivers within less than a tenth of a second. Therefore, a well-managed race is crucial to achieve the best possible result. Let’s take a look at the race strategies proposed by Pirelli for the 2023 Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring circuit.

Two-stop strategies seem the most effective
According to simulations conducted by Pirelli technicians, the most effective strategies involve two pit stops. Let’s examine the differences together. The proposals by the Italian tire manufacturer heavily utilize the harder tire compounds available for this weekend, namely the yellow and white tires. However, there is also the option for a final stint on the red tire to be more impactful in the last portion of the race with a lighter car.

Possible race strategies for the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Hungarian GP 2023. Two-stopper: Medium until Lap 17 to 24, change to Hard until Lap 42 to 48, finish on another set of Hard, Two-stopper: Medium until lap 18 to 25, change to Hard until lap 45 to 52, finish on medium. Three-stopper: Medium until lap 13 to 19, then hard until lap 32 to 39, then another hard set until lap 52 to 58, then finish on soft. One-stopper: hard until lap 40 to 46, then finish on medium.

The first three proposals involve starting on the yellow tire and then switching to the white tire for the second stint. In the first strategy, a pit stop is scheduled between laps 17 and 24, followed by two stints on the white tires. The second strategy is similar, but the difference lies in the tire choice for the last stint, which features the yellow tire from lap 45. Among these options, Pirelli has also included a single-stop race that features the white and yellow tires.

The effectiveness of the third proposal, which suggests three pit stops on the twisty Hungaroring circuit, remains to be evaluated. Here, the starting tire is the yellow one, which is replaced by the white tire within the first 20 laps, followed by two stints on the white tire, each lasting around 20 laps. What could prove to be a wildcard is the red tire for the final stint of 12/18 laps, which could be much more effective with a lighter car.

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This new tire allocation for the qualifying allows for tire saving but could also be an opportunity to plan less conservative strategies. As for the tire options available to the drivers, the top three teams have one set of hard tires per driver. Among them, Carlos Sainz has two sets of new red tires due to not participating in Q3, while George Russell, eliminated in Q1, also has two sets of medium tires. For these two drivers, the strategies proposed by Pirelli might undergo changes and become more aggressive to make the most of these softer tire choices.