F1 teams will have to choose their tyre compounds for the Australian Grand Prix next week as a result of new regulations.
For 2016, Pirelli will nominate three compounds per race weekend, with each driver receiving 13 sets for the three days of track running. Of those 13 sets, Pirelli will select two sets which have to be allocated for the race (of which a driver must use one set), while a set of the softest available compound may only be used in Q3 to ensure a pole position shootout featuring all ten cars.
The teams are then able to select any combination of the compounds to complete the remaining ten sets of tyres as they wish. However, this must be done so well in advance of each race.
The 2016 Formula One Sporting Regulations state:
"Competitors must then inform the FIA, no less than eight weeks before the start of each Event held in Europe and fourteen weeks before the start of each Event held outside Europe, which specifications of dry-weather tyres they wish to use for each of their drivers at the Event."
The three compounds for the Australian Grand Prix will be the supersoft, soft and medium tyres, and teams have until December 17 to make their selections known. The original deadline was December 11 but Pirelli's work following the Abu Dhabi test a week ago led to an extension.
If a team misses the deadline, the FIA will make the selection on its behalf.
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