Not even time to reflect on what happened in Spain, which is right away race week! Formula One does not stop, indeed it is ready to get back on track immediately with the Great Monaco Prize. Race for the possible redemption for Ferrari, Leclerc above all, and of the confirmation of Verstappen.
Road to Munich
But many things will change. The characteristics of the track of the Principality are completely different compared to those of Montmelò. A choice that led Pirelli to opt for some mixes completely alternatives. The company from P in fact, for the Monaco GP, he selected the mixes: C3,C4,C5. Let's find out everything in detail:
The tires on the track
- One week after using the hardest tires in the range for the Spanish Grand Prix, it is now the softest compounds that have been selected for the most glamorous track of all: Monaco. The C3 will be the P Zero White hard, the C4 the P Zero Yellow medium and the C5 the P Zero Red soft.
- Like Barcelona, Monaco is an extremely well-known track for teams. It is in fact one of only three circuits still on the calendar among those that were already present in the inaugural Formula 1 season in 1950. However, unlike the other two, Spa and Silverstone, it has not yet changed its layout in a significant way, keeping the average speed more low than any other track and few escape routes, which is why overtaking is notoriously difficult.
- Due to the slippery asphalt of the roads used for the track, (which are opened to traffic every evening) and the low speeds that are reached, the tires are not particularly stressed and wear and tear are minimal, but there is a high degree of track evolution every day. For these reasons a one-stop strategy is usually the norm at Monaco, but there is a fairly large pit stop window and stop times can be affected by the safety car which comes into action very often at this circuit due to the limited escape.
- In Monaco the cars adopt a special setup with high aerodynamic load to maximize grip at low speeds. Having grip guaranteed mechanically by the tires and aerodynamically by the load. This grand prix obviously represents the debut in Monaco for the new generation of Formula 1 cars with 18-inch tyres. The teams will need to understand how they react in these unique conditions, also considering that the weather on the Mediterranean coast is sometimes difficult to predict at this time of year.
Isola: "Qualification is essential"
We could not miss the words of the head of the Pirelli motorsport area in view of the seventh race of the season Mario isola:
“Monaco is often described as one of the most unpredictable races of the year. The truth is that qualifying takes on a particular meaning as track position is fundamental on this track. CLearning how to get the most out of the softer C5 compound, which has only been brought to the Australian Grand Prix so far this year, will be a key aspect of free practice. As the rule that required the top 10 drivers to start the race on the tires with which they passed Q2 no longer exists, this year we could see different strategies. Some drivers could choose harder compounds at the start to carry out a long first stint, given the difficulty of overtaking. Others, on the other hand, might choose a more traditional approach by starting with the softest compound. In short, it's a race in which strategy can really make the difference."
SOURCE: Pirelli F1 Media
