252 replies to this topic

[rodlamas]

Mercedes just put on a video on their website talking about tires in 2018 and they said that for one of the first races there is a double step on tire selection at one of the first races.

 

Hypersoft is a very soft tire - i.e. Qualifying tire. Most of the races will be 2 stoppers and there will be a number of different possible strategies at each event. They indicate that for each race there will be a strategy for the front-runners, another for the mid-pack and a 3rd one for the back of the grid.

 

Link for the video bellow

 

[Marklar]

2018 test plan

[turssi]

How are named from hardest to softest this year?

[Wuzak]

****ing hard

Not quite so ****ing hard

Medium hardness but still quite hard 

Softish

Softer

Really soft

****ing soft

Edited by Wuzak, 02 March 2018 - 01:38.

[Wuzak]

Or

 

Superhard

Hard

Medium

Soft

Super Soft

Ultra Soft

Hyper Soft

 

https://www.motorspo...ds-2018-981774/

Edited by Wuzak, 02 March 2018 - 01:43.

[maaaarsh]

Encouraging comments yesterday and performance this week - seems like they've moved to a simplified approach where all compounds have a similar wide operating window rather than alternating compounds which like it hotter or colder. Also mentioned improving heat tolerance on all compounds as well, so we should hopefully have tyres where softer is nearly always quicker, and you can push without them turning to mush.

[Marklar]

Pirelli has announced the tyres for Spain and Canada
https://news.pirelli...2018-compounds?

[ConsiderAndGo]

If the hard compounds aren’t being used here....

Absolutely pointless.

[Jovanotti]

For a moment I thought they'd use harder tyres in Canada than in Spain...

Edited by Jovanotti, 09 March 2018 - 09:42.

[Kulturen]

I sort of understand if they wanted to have harder compounds available just in case. Then if it goes well this year it wouldn't surprise me if they got rid of the superhards and hards and renamed the rest of the range from hard to ultrasoft as before. 

Edited by Kulturen, 09 March 2018 - 09:43.

[Henri Greuter]

If the hard compounds aren’t being used here....

Absolutely pointless.

 

 

Any bets on how many tires in total for all cars in all races comined wil be used for the two hardest compounds?

 

 

Also any idea for what will be the name of the next tire to by introduced: the one even softer than the hypersoft....

This in order to assure even more pit stops for even more position changes we otherwise won't get enough....

 

 

 

Henri

[w1Y]

So Merc have concerns on soft tyres and mediums are not used at Aus? In fact I have to question why so.mich testing was done on Mediums tyres considering soft seems to be the tyres used at ever race

[Marklar]

So Merc have concerns on soft tyres and mediums are not used at Aus? In fact I have to question why so.mich testing was done on Mediums tyres considering soft seems to be the tyres used at ever race

Cause that's the most representative tyre in Barcelona

[FPV GTHO]

Cause that's the most representative tyre in Barcelona

The last few years when theyve done so much mileage, and particularly last year when Hamilton and Bottas had to drive each day to manage fatigue, using the Medium was also the only option given the limited sets available for testing.

[Marklar]

And here it starts

[hahostolze]

I am struggling here. The ultrasoft is softer than it was last year. Last year it was the softest race tire and an impossible race tire at most circuits. So now the ultrasoft is even softer, how are teams like Merc gonna race multiple stints on that tire? Even at Albert Park, I can't imagine them not blistering or going bad very quickly.

[Goron3]

I am struggling here. The ultrasoft is softer than it was last year. Last year it was the softest race tire and an impossible race tire at most circuits. So now the ultrasoft is even softer, how are teams like Merc gonna race multiple stints on that tire? Even at Albert Park, I can't imagine them not blistering or going bad very quickly.

Last year's US was capable of doing close to 30 laps at Albert Park, including the qualifying laps. Even if it's softer this year it should still be able to do around 20 laps and be a fairly decent tyre. If my memory is correct, the Ultrasoft turned out to be a fairly capable tyre even at circuits like Spa.

 

I'm a bit surprised that they didn't bring the hypersoft but given how far in advance they need to prepare the tyres, it's understandable that we need to wait until Monaco.

[MadYarpen]

I wonder how are wet tyres this year.

 

So far they were useless.

[Jerem]

I am struggling here. The ultrasoft is softer than it was last year. Last year it was the softest race tire and an impossible race tire at most circuits. So now the ultrasoft is even softer, how are teams like Merc gonna race multiple stints on that tire? Even at Albert Park, I can't imagine them not blistering or going bad very quickly.

They won't. One stint on ultras at the start, they can probably do something like 15 laps on these without worries. Then switch to softs and maybe softs again till the end (or supers depending on how they work).

[Lights]

Another season coming up with all teams mainly taking the softest option available.

 

I wish Pirelli would offer softer compounds in their selection so that we can actually see different strategies.

[Zava]

They won't. One stint on ultras at the start, they can probably do something like 15 laps on these without worries. Then switch to softs and maybe softs again till the end (or supers depending on how they work).

I bet Hamilton won't be changing to softs 2 times.

[sopa]

They won't. One stint on ultras at the start, they can probably do something like 15 laps on these without worries. Then switch to softs and maybe softs again till the end (or supers depending on how they work).

 

Considering teams have chosen ultrasoft tyres in vast majority, clearly indicates this is the tyre they want to do the race with. So perhaps only one stint on an 'other (lesser) tyre'.

[rodlamas]

Those selections were made back in December when there was virtually no car.

[Jerem]

I bet Hamilton won't be changing to softs 2 times.

Yeah, I agree that probably both Merc will put on the softs and make it to the end (unless there's a rush to put supers and they are scared the SC might come out and ruin them).

[Jerem]

Considering teams have chosen ultrasoft tyres in vast majority, clearly indicates this is the tyre they want to do the race with. So perhaps only one stint on an 'other (lesser) tyre'.

No, I think it's the tyre they want to use for qualifying. One set for FP2, two for FP3, then one for Q1, two for Q2 and two for Q3, that makes 8 sets. Teams that don't make Q3 can start the race on fresh US. Then it's softs/supers all the way for the race, with one set for each driver to test.

It's happened before that a driver would do most of the race on the only set of the hardest available tyre that he brought to the race, without having even tested it.

[Kalmake]

Wolff reckons there isn't as much difference between compounds as Pirelli estimated.

 

 

Between medium and soft, soft and supersoft, supersoft and ultrasoft you could see tiny steps, between a tenth or two, sometimes no step at all.

 

With some teams, like Williams, there was no step at all.

 

https://www.autospor...ly-tyre-in-test

[haryantofan666]

Ever since 2014 the tyres have been hard as rocks. With some grand prix where only Mercedes could make them work and all the other teams sliding around, most painful probably Spain 2014. This year they said they were going a step softer and offer even more softer tyres with the ultra and hyper but during testing there didn't seem any tyre deg at all for the most part. I fear Pirelli got it wrong again and ever since that secret tyre test in 2013 it seems they do everything to help Mercedes.

 

F1 needs more competition and closer racing, personally I don't mind a 2012 repeat where multiple teams won races. If Liberty Media wants a better product they should tell Pirelli to bring softer tyres.

[Goron3]

Ever since 2014 the tyres have been hard as rocks. With some grand prix where only Mercedes could make them work and all the other teams sliding around, most painful probably Spain 2014. This year they said they were going a step softer and offer even more softer tyres with the ultra and hyper but during testing there didn't seem any tyre deg at all for the most part. I fear Pirelli got it wrong again and ever since that secret tyre test in 2013 it seems they do everything to help Mercedes.

 

F1 needs more competition and closer racing, personally I don't mind a 2012 repeat where multiple teams won races. If Liberty Media wants a better product they should tell Pirelli to bring softer tyres.

As you say, they are bringing softer tyres and each compound is going to be softer than it was last year. You only have to look at the tyre selection choices for the opening rounds to see that they are being aggressive. China is seeing US, S, M (last year the SS even struggled there) and Spain will use SS, S and M, with the hard tyre not picked. There should be a good amount of variety in strategy used, but as always track temperature will be a big factor. If it's 30 degrees air temperature at Barcelona then the SS is going to be a very aggressive tyre.

[P123]

Wolff reckons there isn't as much difference between compounds as Pirelli estimated.
 
 
https://www.autospor...ly-tyre-in-test

Nothing new there. Most of the time the estimated differences given by Pirelli have turned out to be slightly exaggerated.

And it does throw out the window a lot of the pecking order rankings (Haas third.. ha!) that the media and 'experts' have been weighing in with.

[Jazza]

Ridiculous naming system. The real tyres are;

M=SH
S=H
SS=M
US=S
HS=SS

Looks at their tyre choices for the upcoming races. It is clear that the SS is he default tyre and is therefore the actual medium. The H and SH doesn’t even get used once.

[Quickshifter]

Pirelli have clearly exaggerated the gaps. As Toto mentions only the Hypersoft has the biggest jump from the next compound which is Ultrasoft. The gaps from medium to soft to Ultrasoft are not more than two to three tenths between immediate compounds. However as always the gaps may vary depending upon circuits

Edited by Quickshifter, 16 March 2018 - 10:06.

[SevenTigers]

The 'Stephen' tyre hardness scale.

 

Steven Segal

Steve McQueen

Steve Buschemi

Stevie Nicks

Steve Jobs

Stephen Fry

[Jerem]

So Wolff labels the HS a "survival tyre". I can see why Mercedes wouldn't want it to be used much since they have the reputation of making harder compounds work better than other teams.

[Jerem]

Minimum pressure requirements for Melbourne : 22psi (front), 19.5psi (rear). Anyone knows what the pressures were last year?

 

Source: reddit

[gary87]

Last year's minimum pressure was the same. 22psi (front) 19.5 (rear)

[Yoshi]

Selection for Bahrain

 

[Marklar]

China - they skipped SS, so some choices here are a bit interesting

Edited by Marklar, 03 April 2018 - 14:29.

[MikeV1987]

Hards will be useless again this season.

[Goron3]

Interesting choices. Surprised to see Mercedes be so conservative.

 

China tends to be pretty cold and grey every year (when it's not raining). It will be fascinating to see how this impacts the tyres, because a cold circuit could help make the US perform quite well.

[TomNokoe]

China - they skipped SS, so some choices here are a bit interesting

They skipped SS, since when?

[f1paul]

They skipped SS, since when?

Since they announced that the tyre choices for China were Medium, Soft and Ultrasoft.   

 

About 12 weeks ago. 

[Jovanotti]

Interesting choices. Surprised to see Mercedes be so conservative.

 

China tends to be pretty cold and grey every year (when it's not raining). It will be fascinating to see how this impacts the tyres, because a cold circuit could help make the US perform quite well.

Will probably be an easy one-stopper US-S for most of the teams. No reason to bring the medium at all.

Edited by Jovanotti, 03 April 2018 - 16:01.

[F1Gui]

Temps forecast to be about 20c on Sunday so an easy 1 stopper perhaps starting on soft and switching to medium half way through.

[ConsiderAndGo]

Temps forecast to be about 20c on Sunday so an easy 1 stopper perhaps starting on soft and switching to medium half way through.

Teams won’t go anywhere near the medium.

[Goron3]

Temps forecast to be about 20c on Sunday so an easy 1 stopper perhaps starting on soft and switching to medium half way through.

They tend to qualify on the softest tyre....

[F1Gui]

Teams won’t go anywhere near the medium.

Hmmm... this years medium is last years soft, add in the higher df/cornering speeds and its a no brainer to go soft/medium.

I was refering to the Chinese GP btw in relation to the post about tyre allocation

Edited by F1Gui, 03 April 2018 - 20:07.

[ConsiderAndGo]

Hmmm... this years medium is last years soft, add in the higher df/cornering speeds and its a no brainer to go soft/medium.

But... they won’t, as they’ll start on the super soft.

23/5 laps on SS, pit for softs till the end.

[FPV GTHO]

Those outside the top 10 might try a one stop on the harder tyres. I dont think anyone trying to get into Q3 will be able to get through Q2 safely given the extra step between compounds. Lets also remember how China is alot tougher on the front tyres

[haryantofan666]

So.... Pirelli...

 

On a track that's supposed to be hard on the tyres, the winning strategy was a 1 stop of Supersoft and Soft.

 

Last year they brought the Ultrasoft to Spa. What are they gonna do now, bring the Hypersoft to Spa?

All this talk of going a step softer is a joke, in fact Pirelli is a joke. I thought they said they were aiming for 2-3 stop races? I thought they said they were bringing tyres with wider temperature window? I guess not.

[Kulturen]

It really is a joke isn't it?

 

But Pirelli doesn't have time for your trivial concerns, they are hard at work preparing custom made tyres for Mercedes.