F1 Canadian Grand Prix Preview: Tyre Strategy Under Scrutiny
Montreal, Canada – As teams gear up for the Canadian Grand Prix, tyre selection is at the forefront of strategic discussions. With Pirelli introducing the C6 compound for the 2025 season, the softest tyre will be utilized in Montreal. However, the minimal performance advantage over the C5 may lead to a challenging decision for teams during qualifying.
Temperatures are expected to rise significantly during the qualifying session on Saturday, raising concerns that the C6s may overheat and struggle to deliver consistent performance. This scenario echoes recent races in Imola and Monaco, where several drivers opted for the medium compound, with Fernando Alonso achieving a solid Q3 position using it at Imola.
George Russell hinted at the growing interest in mediums among teams: "Clearly a number of teams are thinking about this medium tyre as well," indicating a potential strategic pivot for Mercedes.
In Free Practice 1, most teams focused on the softs, with nine of the ten conserving two sets of hards for the race. Sauber was an exception, using a set in FP2, believing that an extra set of C5s could pay off during the race.
Carlos Sainz predicted a "bit of a mess with the tyres," highlighting the slight performance gap—approximately a tenth of a second—between the compounds. This complexity hinges on how teams manage the softer tyres, particularly in power-sensitive corners.
Pierre Gasly admitted uncertainty about tyre strategy, stating, "I’m sure it’s going to be a question," as drivers work to optimize their setups. Alonso also expressed a need for additional data, having faced graining issues during FP2. "They seem to take a few laps to get into temperature, but then when they do, they grain," he noted.
Pirelli’s chief engineer, Simone Berra, confirmed that graining was prevalent but could improve as track conditions evolve. He indicated that a two-stop strategy is likely for Sunday’s 70-lap race, with both medium and hard tyres showing promise during initial stints.
"The level of graining was quite high today," Berra stated. "It will be interesting to see how the teams will tackle qualifying."
With all eyes on the final practice session, teams will seek to draw conclusions on tyre performance before the critical decisions of qualifying day.
