Formula 1 News: Soft Tyre-Only Proposal for Monaco Sparks Debate Amid Lack of Overtaking

Following a processional Monte Carlo race, which saw the top ten drivers finish in the same position they started, Formula 1 teams and tyre supplier Pirelli are considering potential rule changes to inject more excitement into the sport. One suggestion, put forward by Mercedes driver George Russell, is to bring only soft tyres to Monaco, rather than the usual three different compounds.

Pirelli’s Response and Skepticism

Pirelli’s head of car racing and F1, Mario Isola, expressed his willingness to gather simulation data from teams to examine the potential impact of a soft-tyre-only race. However, he remains skeptical that it would dramatically alter the on-track action, as drivers would likely prioritize tyre conservation even more.

“I believe that we can ask the teams to make a simulation and see what happens,” Isola explained. “But in 2018, when they were running softer tyres, if I remember well, they were running eight seconds slower than the potential of the tyres – which was F2 pace.”

Isola emphasized that the root cause of the issue lies not just with tyre degradation but also with the difficulty of overtaking in Monaco. “The problem in Monaco is that you cannot overtake, so you can slow down by 2/3/4 seconds per lap and nobody can get past you,” he said. A combination of factors, including tyre degradation, overtaking difficulties, and pit stop times, influences a team’s strategy.

Exploring Softer Compounds for Street Circuits

The Italian tyre expert also cast doubt on the idea of mandating a minimum number of pitstops, citing previous experiences where teams converged on the same strategies. “What we want is to have a mix of one stop and two stops, with different compounds used,” Isola stressed.

When asked about the ideal solution for Monaco, Isola humorously suggested a wider circuit – an impossible feat given the principality’s infrastructure constraints. Instead, he proposed exploring softer compounds for other street circuits, such as Miami and Las Vegas.

Upcoming Tyre Developments

Pirelli has made significant progress on next year’s new slick tyres, designed to reduce overheating, following a test at Paul Ricard. An additional, softer compound – the C6 – will be introduced specifically for street circuits, shifting the range towards softer tyres.

“The idea is also to introduce a new C6 compound, a softer one, because in the calendar we have more and more street circuits and we need softer compounds,” Isola revealed. “We are going to move the range a little bit on the soft side, and always trying to reduce the overheating.”

Stay tuned for more Formula 1 news, Formula 1 tyres updates, and insights into the world of Formula 1 qualifying and Formula 1 calendar developments.

🔗 Source