Possible race strategies: two stops a viable option at Silverstone

The rain-laden clouds have no intention of giving the Formula 1 championship contenders a moment’s respite. Even today, it seems that rain could be on the horizon. The risk is not very high, hovering around 30% during the period in which the British Grand Prix will take place at Silverstone (16:00-18:00 CET), but it remains a variable that must be taken into account.

As mentioned in the analysis of the race pace showcased by the drivers on Friday, the fact that the race is being held in cooler temperatures (yesterday, the track didn’t exceed 25°C) could be a factor that allows the Ferrari duo to manage their tires better. Things didn’t go very well for them in FP2, with the track temperature exceeding 40°C.

There are many factors that can affect the outcome of a Formula 1 race, from race pace to incidents to reliability. Race strategy is also crucial, especially in a fiercely contested midfield, and can play a decisive role in the final positions. Let’s take a look at the race strategies published by Pirelli for the 2023 Formula 1 British Grand Prix at the Silverstone circuit.

According to simulations conducted by Pirelli technicians, there are four different strategies available, mainly differing in the number of pit stops required. Additionally, all the available tire compounds can be used for the race. Among the proposed strategies, the fastest one is expected to be the first one, which involves starting on the red tire compound, followed by a stint on the medium compound, and finishing again with the red tire.

The second proposed strategy starts on the yellow tire compound, then switches to the hard compound and finishes the race on it. The third proposal is slightly different, featuring shorter stints and two pit stops during the race. The first two tire compounds are the same as the second proposal, starting with yellow, followed by the hard compound for the intermediate stint, and ending with the red tire to finish the race. The fourth proposal by Pirelli suggests a single pit stop, starting on the hard compound to try and gain positions early on, and then switching to the red tire in the final quarter of the race.

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The tire sets available for the British Grand Prix to implement these strategies are as follows:

It will definitely be an exciting race. McLaren, after showing some promising things during FP2, are somewhat of an unknown factor in the race. They will start from second and third positions with Ferrari right behind them, and Mercedes following closely, posing a real threat for the podium.

For the Maranello team, Silverstone will be a sort of crucial test. The moment of truth. In Canada and Austria, tire management posed no issues for Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, but those were also circuits that suited the characteristics of the SF-23 quite well. On the British track, however, the front axle tires tend to be more stressed, which has been the Achilles’ heel of the Ferrari in recent years.

If you’re looking for answers, rest assured that the British Grand Prix will provide us with many (Ferrari, McLaren’s B-project, Mercedes’ progress…), as long as it doesn’t rain.