Pirelli's softest compound makes its debut at Monaco

Pirelli has selected the softest compound in its range to make its 2021 race debut this weekend in Monaco.

Teams have been allocated the C3 hard tyre – which was the soft rubber used last time out in Barcelona, the C4 medium and the C5 soft compounds.

While the Principality's street circuit is a high-downforce track, energy loads are relatively low overall, making the event traditionally a one-stop race.

"Monaco is unique, but its absence from the calendar since 2019 only emphasizes its specific characteristics and makes us even more pleased to be going back there," commented Pirelli F1 boss Mario isola.

"Mechanical grip is key to success as is qualifying and strategy, with the renowned difficulty in overtaking.

• Read also: Pirelli details tyre rules for Sprint Qualifying weekends

"This puts the accent firmly on track position, with the drivers having to extract the very maximum from the softest C5 tyre in qualifying.

"Strategy tends to be reactive, with teams making their stops at the moment that gives them the maximum advantage on track, thanks also to a wide pit stop window resulting from the very low tyre wear and degradation."

During F1's last visit to Monaco in 2019, Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton narrowly defeated Red Bull's Max Verstappen with a soft to medium strategy after making an early stop under the safety car on lap 11.

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