Categories: F1 News, Reports and Race ResultsPirelli

Pirelli forecasting more variation in choice and pit stops

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Pirelli believes Formula 1 will see a disparity in tyre choices among teams, and inside teams, when the season kicks off in Melbourne, with stability probably settling in after the first four or five races.

New tyre regulations in 2016 mean teams will now have a choice of three compounds at each Grand Prix weekend, although drivers must select their compounds 14 weeks before every non-European race , and 8 weeks before each European.

Pirelli's racing manager Mario Isola believes that based on the limited data teams currently possess that there is likely to be variations in the tyre choices between the teams as well as between drivers within the same team.

"At the beginning of the championship I think there will be some variation because they had to choose the compounds quite in advance, before the winter test, for the first four races," Isola explained.

" Maybe these differences will be in free practice and then they will converge to a similar strategy for the race.

"That's because they have very powerful tools of simulation and they are able to find the best strategy, also with the new regulations.

"But hopefully we'll have different strategies, probably more pitstops compared to last year because we've added one softer compound.

"So if we have teams planning to have a more aggressive strategy, we should have a higher number of pitstops."

Pireli's Isola refuted claims that this year's new regulations were more complicated than the rules that prevailed in 2015.

"I don't think it's so complicated if you start with last year's regulations. The big difference is there are three compounds instead of two, and the freedom for each team to choose ten sets of tyres for each car.

"Perhaps it's complicated because it was complicated last year. The system for Q3 is the same as last year, with the top 8 drivers obliged to start with the set used in Q2.

"The change is not about introducing a level of complication, but about introducing an additional level of freedom for the teams."

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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.