Pirelli reveals first F1 tyre selections for 2018
Pirelli has nominated the combination of tyre compounds available to the teams for the first three races of the 2018 season, with neither of its two new compounds included.
Today, Pirelli has announced its tyre selections for the first three races; Australia, Bahrain and China. Pirelli has chosen the ultra-soft, super-soft and soft tyres for the season-opener in Australia.
At the Bahrain Grand Prix, Pirelli will bring the super-soft, soft and medium tyres to the Sakhir International Circuit.
For the Chinese Grand Prix, the teams will have the option to pick from the medium, soft or ultra-soft tyres. This is significant as it’s the first time Pirelli has skipped a compound during its selection of the tyres since the introduction of the three-tyre compound rule in 2016.
Also significant is the fact that Pirelli hasn’t bought either of its two new compounds to the first three races. The hyper-soft compound should make an appearance later on in the season and that will delight 2017 World Champion Lewis Hamilton, he claimed they were “the best tyres Pirelli has made”.
However, the super-hard tyre is viewed more as a safeguard compound and is unlikely to be used during the 2018 season.
Drivers this year will still have to follow the rules of last year with at least one set of the softest tyre being chosen for Q3/race use; and one set of the two hardest tyres being kept for the race.
Pirelli said its aim for this season was to make tyres “one step softer” than its 2017 equivalents and its goal was to increase the levels of strategy in the races.