Pirelli’s strategy outlook: why Charles Leclerc’s new soft set could be crucial | F1 Spain GP. Pirelli outlines four two-stop strategies for the Spanish GP.

At the Spanish GP, given the abrasive nature of the track and the high temperatures, choosing the right strategies and managing the tyres effectively are two key aspects for achieving a good result. Due to the high thermal degradation, track position becomes less important compared to circuits like Monaco, as tyre drop-off means significant time and position losses. This greatly increases the power of the undercut, since a new tyre is expected to offer a significant grip advantage. Therefore, it will be crucial for drivers to maintain a safe gap to rivals and for teams to be ready to react.

For this reason, Pirelli expects all strategies in Spain to involve two stops, despite the compound selection being among the hardest in the range (C1-C2-C3). Let’s take a look at them.

Four options: all compounds in play
Pirelli provides four possible strategies for the Spanish GP, all of which involve two stops. Notably, all the compounds are suitable for use during the race. The first option includes two stints on softs separated by a medium stint, the second and fourth use all three compounds in the order of soft-medium-hard and medium-hard-soft respectively, and the third starts on softs followed by two stints on mediums. Most options therefore start on the red tyre, which, although offering less strategic flexibility, provides a significant advantage at the start.

It is interesting to note that Pirelli did not indicate a preferred order among the strategies, a sign that all compounds seem to perform well and, at least on paper, are considered equivalent. The main deciding factor will thus be the number of available sets for each driver. Only the race and its specific conditions will reveal which tyres will prove most effective, and consequently, which teams made the best choices in tyre allocation for Sunday.

New soft tyre: how can Charles Leclerc take advantage of it?
A strategic decision that drew attention after qualifying was Charles Leclerc’s choice to forgo a final Q3 attempt in order to preserve a new set of soft tyres for the race. Although this set is officially listed as “used”, the Monegasque driver only completed an out-lap on it. The Ferrari driver seemed confident in his decision – how can Ferrari make the most of it?

This soft compound tyre can be used at any point in the race: at the start, in the second stint for an undercut, or at the end for a final push. However, the most likely option is to use it at the start. A new tyre, in addition to lasting longer, provides better grip off the line – a crucial phase, especially at the Barcelona circuit. Therefore, thanks to this saved set – which likely cost him a few positions in qualifying – Charles Leclerc aims to recover those spots at the start and have a tyre management advantage over direct rivals throughout the first stint.