Ahead of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, strategy decisions are in the spotlight. With three tire compounds available, the race is predicted to be intriguing, but one threat must be watched: graining on the front tires.
Simone Berra, Pirelli's Chief Engineer, revealed his analysis. According to him, the iconic Monza circuit presents different characteristics from previous years, yet the tradition of a one-stop race remains the most likely scenario.
Tire Compound Dilemma and Graining Threat
Berra revealed that tire degradation levels at Monza are low, as the track allows tires to 'breathe' thermally. Lateral loads are not particularly severe, and the energy required per lap is among the lowest of the year.
These conditions keep rear tire temperatures stable, with both hard and soft compounds. However, the biggest surprise came from the C5 soft compound, which is expected to be durable enough for long stints, making it a viable race tire.
Nevertheless, thermal degradation on the rear remains the main limiting factor. Additionally, graining appears on the front tires due to Monza's very smooth asphalt, which offers high adhesive grip, causing small tears on the tire surface.
Heading Towards a Dominant One-Stop Race
Low tire degradation steers teams towards a one-stop strategy, reinforced by a pit lane time loss of around 24 seconds. Berra stressed that a two-stop strategy would only be an option if Safety Car or Virtual Safety Car periods occur.
The fastest strategy on paper is to start on the medium tire and switch to the hard, with a pit stop around laps 24 to 30. Other options like soft-hard and medium-soft are estimated to be a couple of seconds slower.
The majority of drivers are predicted to start on the medium tire because it offers good initial grip and stint flexibility. If a Safety Car appears early in the race, opportunities for undercuts or strategy changes open up.
Interestingly, Kimi Antonelli is expected to run a different strategy in his bid to recover from the back, a variable that could alter race dynamics. Meanwhile, Mercedes was named by Berra as the favorite team to win at Monza, adding tension to the competition towards the Italian GP.
Baca Juga
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