Formula 1 is an elite motor racing competition and small margins often mean the difference between triumph and disappointment. The tires on a Formula 1 racing car are one of many parts that can have a real impact on the result.
That is why drivers have a selection of tires, ranging from hard to soft, available for each race, but the balance of that range can be subject to change. The drivers and the teams know how important the right tires for each surface are.
Formula 1 Tire Management
Efficient management of tires is critical to Formula 1 success. The tires for each race will depend on factors such as the weather forecast for the race day and the condition of the racing track.
Every team has several sets marked in different colors. The hardest tires have white markings, the medium ones yellow and the softest ones red.
There are also intermediate ones marked in green and wet weather ones marked blue. Choosing the appropriate ones can make a big difference to the chances of the team and the driver, but is also vital to the safety of the drivers.
Examples of high profile tire failures in the past include the infamous exploding tires that marred the 2013 British Grand Prix at Silverstone and the rear tire blow out that cost Max Verstappen the Azerbaijan Grand Prix two years ago.
That has put a lot of pressure onto Pirelli, the company that has an exclusive deal to manufacture tires for Formula 1. The company has worked hard to get it right this year, with new compounds added to the options available.
It is no easy task, as the demands placed on tires in top level motor racing are much greater than those of everyday cars. The speeds involved mean that not even the best ones for normal cars, like premium Vogue tires, would be suitable for Formula 1.
Ultimately, the correct tires for the different weather conditions and surfaces can give a driver a competitive edge, while the wrong ones can cost them victory. Tire management is thus every bit as important as managing the engine or the steering on the car.
It is about making sure the cars are fitted with soft, slick tires with no tread for dry race tracks, so that the tires enjoy maximum surface contact; or harder rain tires for wet race tracks. These offer greater surface grip and are designed to prevent overheating, but the driver must be careful to avoid aquaplaning due to the special tread pattern that pushes rainwater away.
There are also intermediate tires for damp tracks and sometimes changes must be made mid-race, so managing the tires can be complex.
What Tires Are Being Used This Year?
Having expanded its range of products during the winter of 2022/23, Pirelli is offering six different rubber compounds for the teams in Formula 1 this season. Each team has two white-marked hard rubber sets, three yellow-marked medium sets and eight red-marked soft sets.
The harder compounds were used during the first race in Bahrain, while the second one in Saudi Arabia saw the manufacturer recommend softer tires. Those are the same tires successfully used for the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix last year, but the range of choice available in 2023 marks a change.
Many teams act on these basic recommendations that take expected weather and track conditions into account.
Tire Scandals
There have been Formula 1 tire scandals. In 2005, Michael Schumacher secured a controversial victory in the US Grand Prix when two rivals were forced to pull out because their Michelin tires proved inadequate to the track.
That helped speed up the process of making one manufacturer responsible for all tires.
Tires are crucial in Formula 1 and can make as much difference to the outcome as the car engines.
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