F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Pirelli primer: which tyres for the Austrian GP?

This weekend, Formula 1 seamlessly moves on to its first back-to-back event, the Austrian Grand Prix located in the verdant mountains of Styria.

While a lap of Paul Ricard is one of the longest on the calendar, a stroll around the Red Bull Ring will set drivers back by a little over 63 seconds, a benchmark that could be lowered even further this year.

Pirelli's trucks have unloaded the white C2, the yellow C3 and the red C4 - hard, medium and soft - compounds.

Typically, the Red Bull Ring is a low degradation venue but warm temperatures predicted in Spielberg might put a few drivers on the deg limit on race day, depending on the compound.

"Like last year, we have exactly the same nomination for Austria as we had for France, with the races again separated by only one week, at the same time of year," Pirelli F1 boss Mario Isola explained.

"The difference is that the 2019 compounds are more evenly spaced, which should encourage more varied pit stop strategies and better racing.

"Austria is an unusual track, with lots of blind corners and unpredictable elements such as weather and traffic.

"This means that plenty of confidence, as well as exactly the right set-up, is needed to get the best out of the tyres on this short track and maximise all the different opportunities that present themselves; also in terms of strategy.

"Spielberg is a circuit where we have always had some blisters in the past; we are confident that we will see a difference this weekend with the 2019-specification tyre."

Michael Delaney

Recent Posts

Mekies: ‘We all agree’ F1 must bring back flat-out qualifying

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has made it clear: Formula 1 must rediscover the…

7 hours ago

‘Rusty, me?’: Perez fires back at Andretti’s Cadillac claim

Sergio Perez isn’t taking lightly the suggestion that his return to Formula 1 with Cadillac…

9 hours ago

Formula 1’s heartfelt gift to new dad Fernando Alonso

While Aston Martin’s F1 car is currently giving Fernando Alonso some massive engine vibrations and…

10 hours ago

Hill says unhappy Verstappen ‘should stop and do something else’

For a driver who has spent years bending F1 to his will, Max Verstappen suddenly…

11 hours ago

‘He’s up against it’: Brundle fears Sainz facing career dead end in F1

For Carlos Sainz, what was meant to be a strong second season at Williams is…

13 hours ago

Alonso’s brutal verdict: ‘High-speed corners now charging stations’

Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso has delivered another withering verdict on Formula 1’s 2026 regulations…

14 hours ago