F1: Ferrari and Mercedes differ on Bahrain tyre choices

Andrew Lewin 22/03/2016 at 13:3422/03/2016 at 14:10

Ferrari and Mercedes have made notably different tyre compound choices for the Bahrain Grand Prix.

This year's regulations allow teams to pick ten of their 13 compounds for each race weekend without restriction, with three different tyre compounds available for each race. In Bahrain the same compounds as Australia are available, with Pirelli nominating the supersoft, soft and medium tyre.

With Pirelli making one set of mediums and one set of softs the mandatory race tyres - of which one set must be used - Mercedes has effectively not chosen any extra medium tyres despite the compound helping it win the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday. Teams had to make their selections 13 weeks in advance of the race.

Ferrari, on the other hand, has selected three sets of mediums for the race weekend, with Mercedes having two more sets of softs than its main rival. Both teams have selected six sets of supersofts, though one set is solely for use in Q3.

The majority of teams have the same allocations for each driver, with only Toro Rosso, Sauber and Haas seeing differences between team-mates.