The 2025 Formula 1 season is picking up pace with the first triple-header of the year, featuring Japan, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia in succession. The central event will be key to understanding the tire management of the 2025 cars, given the harsh nature of the track surface. To balance performance without losing too many positions, managing the Pirelli tires will be critical. The Italian manufacturer has provided the race strategies and the recommended number of pit stops for the Bahrain GP, which starts at 17:00 (Central European Summer Time).
The expectations for the Bahrain GP see McLaren as the obvious favorite, with the MCL39 being particularly gentle on the tires. The Woking-based team’s car manages to reach and maintain the optimal window for an entire lap, even with the C3 tire, the softest compound of the weekend. In fact, for this race, Pirelli has brought the hardest tire compounds, similar to what was done in Japan.
This choice is obviously linked to the age of the asphalt, which was laid in 2004 and has deteriorated over the years, increasing its roughness. This phenomenon is accompanied by abrasiveness, which especially pressures the rear axle. Therefore, it is a rear-limited track, where the rear end is highly stressed due to acceleration, braking, and re-acceleration.
Pirelli has also considered adjusting the tire pressures for the Bahrain GP, with a reduction in the rear pressure. This measure was implemented to limit sliding and optimize the “working pressure” of the tires.
The most suitable strategy is a two-stop strategy, with M-H-M (Medium-Hard-Medium), featuring a short first stint and a longer second stint. This strategy aims to manage the first two phases efficiently, as the last phase could be covered with medium tires.
The second alternative could involve varying the second stop, opting for a double stint on hard tires. This strategy could be applied by Verstappen, as he has kept a double C1 tire for the race.
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