Pirelli Announces Updated Tyre Compound Selections for Upcoming Grands Prix
Milan, Italy – Pirelli has confirmed tyre compound selections for the remainder of the 2023 Formula 1 season, introducing significant adjustments for the British and Belgian Grands Prix that may impact race strategies.
For the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, Pirelli will provide a softer compound range compared to previous years, featuring the C2 (hard), C3 (medium), and C4 (soft). This decision is notable given the circuit’s high-speed corners and historical tyre failures. Pirelli last altered its tyre specifications for Silverstone in 2020, leading to multiple delaminations. As stated by Pirelli’s motorsport manager, Mario Isola, “The challenge will be to manage the medium, which for the past two years actually served as the soft."
In contrast, the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps will feature a unique selection. While the medium and soft compounds remain the C3 and C4, respectively, the hard compound will be the C1 instead of the C2. This adjustment aims to create a more pronounced performance gap between the tyres, enhancing strategic choices between one-stop and two-stop race strategies. Isola emphasized that the setup could provoke varied outcomes: “Those opting for the hard, assuming a one-stop strategy, will need to account for the performance disparity between the C1 and last year’s C2.”
The introduction of a differentiated compound step, especially during a sprint weekend, intends to complicate tyre selection further. Pirelli aims to avoid a tactical convergence toward a one-stop strategy, instead fostering a more unpredictable race environment. “Teams always find a way to apply a strategy on one stop. Our goal is to introduce variability without mandating a two-stop approach,” Isola noted.
With these strategic changes, the Belgian Grand Prix weekend serves as a vital test for Pirelli’s compound theory, aiming to balance durability and performance effectively within the existing tyre window.
