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Isola hails "successful debut" for ultra softs at Spa

Published on 29 Aug 2017 12:36
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By: Fergal Walsh

Pirelli's Mario Isola was very happy with how the ultra soft tyre performed at the Belgian Grand Prix. The Italian manufacturer decided to bring the softest available compound to the high-speed circuit, with some doubt being cast over the decision.

However, the purple-walled tyre managed well around Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, adding an extra element of strategic importance to the race. Isola also claimed that the late safety car caused by a collision between the two Force India's squashed any concerns over tyre wear.

"The safety car obviously transformed the race strategy by eliminating any questions of wear and degradation in the closing stages, as drivers took advantage of the neutralisation to change tyres. However, the strategic decision then remained as to which compound to choose.

"As has been the case all weekend, the frontrunners were very closely matched on pace. Before the safety car, it seemed that the leaders were set for a one-stop strategy on one of the toughest circuits of the year, having started the race on the ultrasoft, which made a successful debut at Spa."

Tyre Selections for 2017 Italian Grand Prix
Driver	Medium	Soft	Super Soft
44. Hamilton	1	3	9
77. Bottas	1	3	9
3. Ricciardo	1	2	10
33. Verstappen	1	2	10
5. Vettel	1	2	10
7. Raikkonen	1	2	10
11. Perez	1	3	9
31. Ocon	1	3	9
18. Stroll	1	2	10
19. Massa	1	2	10
2. Vandoorne	1	2	10
14. Alonso	1	2	10
26. Kvyat	1	2	10
55. Sainz	1	2	10
8. Grosjean	1	3	9
20. Magnussen	1	3	9
27. Hülkenberg	1	2	10
30. Palmer	1	2	10
9. Ericsson	1	2	10
94. Wehrlein	1	2	10

Fergal Walsh

F1 News Max Verstappen Fernando Alonso Valtteri Bottas Felipe Massa Romain Grosjean Daniel Ricciardo Daniil Kvyat Lewis Hamilton Sebastian Vettel Kimi Räikkönen Marcus Ericsson Sergio Perez Jolyon Palmer Kevin Magnussen Stoffel Vandoorne Pascal Wehrlein Esteban Ocon Lance Stroll Force India Pirelli

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