Pirelli expect to see blistering during Italian GP

  • Published on 30 Aug 2017 15:10
  • comments 1
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Pirelli is expecting to see the tyres suffer from blistering this weekend at Monza. The high speed mixed with the extra downforce that is produced by the 2017 cars will lead to more energy going through the tyres. The Italian company has decided to bring the super soft, soft and medium compounds to the weekend.

It is the sixth time this year we have seen the super soft, soft and medium tyres brought to a Grand Prix. The Italian marque is more concerned about the tyres this weekend in contrast to the Belgian Grand Prix, where the softest tyres had to endure the high-speed corners. 

Choice of compounds in 2017
Grand Prix     Hard    Medium     Soft  Super Soft Ultra Soft
Australia           X         X       X
China            X       X         X  
Bahrain            X       X         X  
Russia           X         X        X
Spain        X          X       X    
Monaco           X         X        X
Canada           X         X        X
Azerbaijan            X       X         X  
Austria           X         X        X
Great Britain            X       X           X  
Hungary            X       X          X  
Belgium          
Italy            X       X          X  
Singapore           X          X        X
Malaysia            X       X          X

Speaking ahead of the weekend, Mario Isola, Head of car racing at Pirelli, explained why the company decided to bring a safer option to Monza, rather than the aggressive choice we saw just under a week ago at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.

"With the new generation of 2017 cars, we may see lower or similar top speeds to last year, but with more energy going through the tyres because of the extra downforce under the new regulations. This combination of speed and downforce defines the amount of work that the tyres have to do. The tyre choice has also been influenced by the risk of blistering at Monza, as there are plenty of braking areas in a straight line.

"This means that the cambered shoulder area of the tyre can easily overheat and so cause more blistering compared to other circuits. In the past Monza has given us many different types of weather, but following a very hot summer, it’s reasonable to expect more high temperatures over the weekend. How this influences tyre behaviour is likely to be a focus of free practice as the teams examine different potential strategies."

Tyre choices 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

Replies (1)

Login to reply
  • f1dave

    Posts: 782

    The simple answer is to make tires suitable for their intended use. Entering the race with tires that aren't expected to do the job seems a dangerous strategy. Maybe it's the tires that need the "halo".

    • + 0
    • Aug 30 2017 - 20:14

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2025

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
14 - Mar 16
Australia
21 - Mar 23
China
4 - Apr 6
Japan
11 - Apr 13
Bahrain
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia
2 - May 4
United States of America
16 - May 18
Italy
23 - May 25
Monaco
30 - Jun 1
Spain
13 - Jun 15
Canada
27 - Jun 29
Austria
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom
25 - Jul 27
Belgium
1 - Aug 3
Hungary
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands
5 - Sep 7
Italy
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan
3 - Oct 5
Singapore
17 - Oct 19
United States of America
24 - Oct 26
Mexico
7 - Nov 9
Brazil
21 - Nov 23
United States of America
28 - Nov 30
Qatar
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
14 - Mar 16
Australia Albert Park
21 - Mar 23
4 - Apr 6
11 - Apr 13
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
2 - May 4
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
16 - May 18
23 - May 25
Monaco Monte Carlo
30 - Jun 1
13 - Jun 15
27 - Jun 29
Austria Red Bull Ring
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom Silverstone
25 - Jul 27
1 - Aug 3
Hungary Hungaroring
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
5 - Sep 7
Italy Monza
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
3 - Oct 5
17 - Oct 19
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
24 - Oct 26
7 - Nov 9
Brazil Interlagos
21 - Nov 23
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
28 - Nov 30
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Country Netherlands
  • Date of b. Sep 30 1997 (27)
  • Place of b. Hasselt (Belgie), Netherlands
  • Weight 70 kg
  • Length 1.8 m
Show full profile

Team profile

  • Team name Pirelli
  • Base Milan, Italy
Show full profile
show sidebar