Barcelona, 10-12 May 2013
NEW P ZERO HARD COMPOUND AND EXTRA TYRES FOR FREE PRACTICE
The P Zero Orange hard compound and P Zero White medium compound have been nominated for the Spanish Grand Prix, but there will be some changes to the tyres at the famous Circuit de Catalunya this year. The P Zero Orange hard compound has evolved, with the objective of opening up even more possibilities for strategy. All the other compounds remain unaltered. There will also be an extra set of prototype hard tyres allocated for free practice to encourage all the teams to run throughout the entire length of the sessions, rather than opt to conserve tyres for the rest of the race weekend. These tyres will not be the same as the P Zero Orange hard tyres used for the rest of the weekend, but are instead a specially-created compound with the emphasis on durability so that the teams run for as long as possible. To distinguish these tyres, they will not carry any colour markings.
Paul Hembery: Were introducing a revised version of our hard tyre in Spain, which is closer in characteristics to the 2012 tyre. This new tyre gives us a wider working temperature windowalthough it delivers a little bit less in terms of pure performancebut it should allow the teams to envisage an even wider variety of race strategies than before in combination with the other compounds, which remain unchanged this year. This is a decision that weve come to having looked at the data from the first four races, with the aim of further improving the spectacle of Formula One. In fact this is almost a tradition with us now, as we also introduced a revised version of the hard tyre for the Spanish Grand Prix in 2011, which was our first year in the sport. Wed expect the medium tyre to still be significantly faster and this is the one that the teams are likely to qualify on, whereas the hard is likely to be the preferred race tyre. As permitted by the current regulations, well be supplying an extra set of prototype hard compound tyres for free practice, which will hopefully ensure that all the cars run throughout these sessions. Its something we wanted to do to encourage all the teams to run as much as possible right from the start, especially with the rookie drivers, to give fans the spectacle they deserve to see.
Jean Alesi: I think Barcelona is the place where we will really be able to assess the tyres properly for the first time, as its the first European race of the year on a circuit that is a well-known reference point without any particular peculiarities. Its a circuit that I personally always liked as a driver although it is very complicated: especially Turn 3, which is extremely demanding on the tyres. I remember it always being quite hard to overtake there, and this is one aspect where Pirelli has transformed the race in Barcelona, thanks also to the DRS. Traction is a key area of performance, which also puts a big emphasis on the tyres, so this is one of the most important races of the year because it acts as a really useful indicator for the season ahead. Introducing an extra set of tyres for free practice is a very smart move, as its bad for the sport to have the cars sitting in the garage for a long time. It will be interesting to see as well the effect that the new specification of hard tyre has on the race. On the whole the teams should be very well-prepared for Barcelona as they have a lot of data from testing at this circuit: the big question is how much of that data will still be relevant, as ambient and track temperatures will have changed enormously since the teams were last there.
The circuit from a tyre point of view:
Barcelona is a fast, flowing and technical track, which asks a lot from the tyres, also due to the high temperatures and reasonably abrasive surface. Most of all though, it is the high lateral energy loadings that dictate exactly how the tyres degrade. Three pit stops is expected to be the favoured strategy, as was the case last year.
The 4.655-kilometre track contains 16 corners, mostly right-handers, putting the emphasis on the left tyres in particular, which do most of the work.
Last year, the hard and soft tyres were selectedbut this years compounds are generally softer than their equivalents last year, so the 2013 medium is broadly equivalent to last years soft. The top five finishers selected a three-stop strategy at last years Spanish Grand Prix, all starting on the soft tyre. The best-placed two-stopper came eighth, having started from last.
Technical tyre notes:
The key to a quick lap time in Barcelona is finding the right compromise between aerodynamic grip and mechanical grip. Most teams run a stiff set-up at the front, to help turn-in, but go softer at the back to gain traction.
Changing wind directiona significant variable in Barcelonais a factor that has an important impact
on car set-up, especially during the first corner.
Nine out of the last 10 races at the track have been won from pole position. Last year was no exception. Qualifying will be crucialwhich means putting the extra set of tyres in free practice to good use in order to find anoptimal set-up.
Meet the Pirelli F1 Team: Max Damiani, F1 Chief Engineer Co-ordinator
Max was born in a small town not far from Milan, where he has lived all his life. He joined Pirelli in 1991. His first role within the Italian firm was working on Pirellis World Rally Championship programmes with Ford and Toyota. Subsequently he also took up a role behind the steering wheel, becoming a test driver for Pirellis road car products, mostly for SUVs. But such was his passion for motorsport that he continued to work on events during the weekends. Since 2001 he has worked full-time in Pirellis competitions department as a senior engineer, in different championships including GT racing both in Europe and America. When Pirelli entered Formula One in 2011, Max took on the role of engineer co-ordinator as well as remaining a senior engineer. Despite maintaining his youthful good looks, Max is actually the only person on the current programme who has a connection to Pirellis former engagement in Formula One that ended in 1991. During that final season, Max worked on three Formula One races as an engineer. In the rare moments that he has to himself, Max enjoys participating in sportsparticularly a martial art named Wing Chun and downhill mountain bikingand spending time with his family. Sadly, he doesnt have time to compete as an amateur rally driver any more: a passion he shares with Pirellis racing manager Mario Isola. So Sebastien Loeb can relax
