“We should find the right balance,” Pirelli boss Mario Isola on the tyre choices for the “unpredictable” Saudi Arabian GP
Jeddah is a demanding track, the Pirelli boss talks about the tyres.
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Jeddah.Image via Reuters.
The second round of the 2023 Formula One Grand Prix is at the Jeddah Corniche circuit in Saudi Arabia. It is a night race at a street circuit. How dramatic. All eyes will be on the Saudi Arabian GP after an epic season-opener. Once the lights go out, the cars hit the road at high speed. It is a beautiful sight for every Formula 1 fan.
Jeddah is a high-speed circuit. The choice of tyres for the race plays a vital role. Pirelli has revealed the tyres for the Saudi Arabian GP. The teams will use the same tyres as last season: the C2 Hard, C3 Medium, and C4 Soft. The Pirelli boss Mario Isola feels that the race at the Jeddah circuit is unpredictable.
Isola stated, “It is vital to find the right balance and be prepared for everything in Jeddah, a track that is very different from Bahrain. The Saudi Arabia GP is very unpredictable due to the many safety cars and neutralisations. It is a real street circuit.” The Pirelli boss has considered everything for making the right tyre choices.
Saudi Arabian GP requires the right balance and preparation
“The first race in Bahrain was about traction and about braking in terms of tyres, but in Jeddah, it is precisely about lateral forces on the tyre. There are completely different characteristics to the circuit from Sakhir”, stated Isola. Jeddah is the second-longest circuit on the calendar, it is very different compared to the other tracks. It is also the longest street circuit.
There are more corners in the Saudi Arabian GP, and the tyres play a pivotal role in the race’s outcome. It plays a strategic role and the teams decide which ones to use and for how many laps. Last season, there was an epic battle between Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc in this circuit. The Red Bull driver took his first win of the 2022 season. Leclerc was less than one second behind Verstappen.
However, Jeddah is an intense circuit and a very demanding one. There were accidents and safety concerns last season. Mick Schumacher crashed during qualifying and was taken to the hospital. There were changes made to the circuit to improve its safety. The 2023 season will be different from last year. There has been a number of changes in the track for better stability. The Saudi Arabian GP could see a change in the pecking order. It will be a test for the three rookies as well.
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Sugantha Meena
(493 Articles Published)