Pirelli announces tyre compounds for opening three races

Pirelli has revealed its tyre compounds for the first three rounds of the 2022 F1 World Championship that will take place in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Australia.

Formula 1's exclusive tyre supplier has developed a new product for 2022 following the adoption of 18-inch wheels.

All F1 teams save Williams took part in Pirelli's extensive development program that unfolded over the course of the 2021 season, with each outfit supplying a mule car fitted with this year's 18-inch wheels.

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Within its hard-to-soft C1 to C5 range of rubber, Pirelli will supply its three hardest compounds to teams in Bahrain next week, while the field will run on the supplier's mid-range C2-C3-C4 selection of rubber in Jeddah.

In Melbourne however, Pirelli has opted to introduce a compound gap, with teams receiving fixed allocations of the C2-hard and the C3-medium tyre, while the softest rubber will be its C5 compound tyre.

As a reminder, a major change this season regarding tyre allocation is the suppression of the Q2 tyre rule, whereby drivers were required to start their race on the tyre on which they achieved their fastest lap in the second segment of qualifying.

Drivers will therefore have a free choice regarding the compound on which they will start their race.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.