PIRELLI - Monaco GP Preview
MONACO GRAND PRIX - PREVIEW
THE HYPERSOFT TIRE MAKES ITS GRAND PRIX DEBUT ON THE TWISTY STREETS OF MONACO
Milan, May 21, 2018 – The brand new P Zero Pink hypersoft tire compound, which in testing has shown itself to be about one second per lap quicker than the ultrasoft tire, makes its competition debut in Monaco alongside the two other softest tire compounds in the Pirelli Formula 1 line-up: ultrasoft and supersoft. With Monaco requiring a high level of mechanical grip yet the least stress on a tire as possible of any track all year, the prestigious street circuit in Monaco is ideal territory for the softest and fastest Formula 1 tires available.
THE CIRCUIT FROM A TIRE POINT OF VIEW
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Monaco is all about generating as much grip from tires and downforce settings as possible, being the shortest and slowest lap of the year (with the hairpin being the slowest corner).
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As a street circuit that’s open to normal traffic outside the sessions (with a day off on Friday),
there is frequently a ‘green’ and slippery surface, with a variable pattern of track evolution.
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Monaco has nearly always been a one-stopper under normal circumstances: it remains to be
seen whether or not the use of the new hypersoft will alter this trend in any way.
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Wear and degradation rates are generally the lowest of the year: it’s an easy track on tires.
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It’s one of the circuits where it’s hardest to overtake, so qualifying is very important, but
there’s a reasonably high risk of a safety car too, which can obviously affect race strategy.
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Weather can vary at this time of year: a wet Monaco circuit is one of the biggest challenges
in F1.
MARIO ISOLA – PIRELLI’S HEAD OF CAR RACING
“We’ve tested the hypersoft tire in Abu Dhabi and Barcelona: of those two, Abu Dhabi is a better comparison to Monaco and there we saw that the hypersoft tire was about a second per lap quicker than the ultrasoft tire; so we could see more records broken this weekend. Nonetheless, the hypersoft tire is definitely a race tire rather than a qualifying tire, so it will be interesting to see how it adapts itself to the unique demands of Monaco, and what effect it has on strategy. Collecting as much data about it as possible in free practice will be particularly important. The drivers have all nominated between eight to11
sets of the hypersoft tire, so we should see plenty of running on it throughout the weekend, if it stays dry of course.”
WHAT’S NEW?
The Pink hypersoft tire makes its debut, exactly two years after the Purple ultrasoft tire was first seen in Monaco. Both were named by fans on social media. There are some new two-storey pit buildings, making life a bit easier for
mechanics.
THE TIRES NOMINATED THIS SEASON
MIN. STARTING PRESSURES (slicks) |
EOS CAMBER LIMIT |
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17.5 psi (front) | 17.5 psi (rear) |
-4.00° (front) | -2.75° (rear) |
Australia |
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Bahrain |
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China |
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Azerbaijan |
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Spain |
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Monaco |
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Canada |
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France |
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Austria |
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Great Britain |
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Germany |
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Tom Beeler
Tom has been a contributor to RIS since 1992. He was invited to join the staff as a full-time reporter/editor in 1995, and has covered IndyCar, Formula 1, NASCAR, Grand-Am, ALMS and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In addition to his RIS work, Tom has been a contributor for General Motors, Nissan, Toyota and the ACO.