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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

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