Pirelli has confirmed that its new-for-2016 ultrasoft compound will make its race debut at the Monaco Grand Prix, with the F1 tyre supplier also nominating the supersoft and soft rubber for the iconic venue.
Pirelli has introduced the new compound as part of revamped tyre regulations for the 2016 season, with the ultrasoft designed for street circuits and other low-grip tracks.
The purple-marked tyre was slated for the Canadian Grand Prix earlier this year but that’s because teams have to make their selection known 14 weeks prior to flyaway races instead of eight for the European events.
The revised rules have been drafted in order to give teams and drivers greater freedom and scope in their strategy. For each race weekend, the Italian company selects three compounds, with the softest one required to be used in Q3 – the final phase of qualifying – and at least one of two compounds nominated mandatory for the grand prix.
As a result, Pirelli effectively picks three sets of dry-weather tyres but teams are then free to choose the remaining 10 they will use during the event. Wet tyre regulations don’t change, which means each car’s full race weekend allocation still includes three sets of full-wets and four of intermediates.
The new regulations were credited for producing an entertaining race in the season-opening Grand Prix, with teams going for a variety of strategies. Pirelli revealed on Tuesday that title rivals Mercedes and Ferrari had made different tyre compound choices for the upcoming Bahrain event.
Technical analysis - Melbourne
Scene at the Australian Grand Prix
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