On Monday, the tire compound choices for the Monaco and Spain Grand Prix were communicated to all teams. In the Principality, from May 26th to 28th, the ten teams will have the three softest tire compounds available, C3, C4, and C5. In Barcelona, from June 2nd to 4th, the chosen trio is C1, C2, and C3.
As tradition dictates, the softest tire compounds of the range have been confirmed for the Monaco race. Along the streets of the Monte-Carlo circuit, tires are less stressed because the cars drive at lower speeds compared to other races in the championship, and the asphalt is not particularly abrasive. In addition, the roads are reopened every evening, and therefore, due to the continuous passage of private cars, the track does not need to gradually get more grip as usually happens during a race weekend. The level of grip that Formula 1 drivers are normally used to is therefore mainly sought through a high-load aerodynamic configuration, the highest of the entire world championship calendar.
The Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona has now become a “classic” of the season. The Spanish Grand Prix has been held continuously on this track since 1991. This year there is a return to the old layout, with the removal of the last chicane and a consequent shortening of the lap length, now reduced to 4.657 kilometers. This modification will make the last sector much smoother and less severe for tires in terms of traction but, at the same time, will subject them to further lateral stress in the last two fast corners, which now become 14 and 15, already put to the test in other parts of the circuit, such as turns 3 and 9.
Another factor to consider in terms of tire wear is the temperature of the asphalt, as last year, despite the race being on the calendar a few weeks earlier, temperatures already reached 50 degrees on the track.
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Therefore, for this race, Pirelli has chosen the C1 compounds as P Zero White hard, C2 as P Zero Yellow medium, and C3 as P Zero Red soft. Although this is nominally the same range as last year, in 2023, the C1 is a new compound (the hardest available is the C0), which made a positive debut in the first race of the Formula One season, at the Bahrain International Circuit.
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