[Official] Italian Grand Prix 2024

[Tourer]

Originally Posted by Richard C

I think we are in agreement. I think we both think there should be more testing. I would ague for two two tests pre-season spaced apart and a mid-season test. I think my point was... even beyond the cost, too much testing allows for too much refinement. But there is a happy middle there somewhere. And I think we both are saying the pendulum has swung too far in the "don't test" direction.



Richard

Yep - agree, I would be nice to see a limited increase - we're on the same page

[chillibowl]

no doubt a better balance can be found so i agree there but im also conflicted because look at how well Mclaren have progressed over the course of this year without in season testing. same for a few other teams on the grid. Merc may be even more impressive given the zero sized hole they put themselves into last year.

the part i would agree with more though is that in season testing would help the drivers get a better understanding of how these tires work.

although after 13 (?) races maybe we should be asking different questions then as to why Mclaren and/or its drivers didnt understand that they could drive through the graining phase provided they properly managed their lap times and didnt waste tire life racing against each other. more so when it seemed like most teams and drivers, including a Williams rookie, had already figured this out.

anyways, this is not so much about more or less testing for me (and apologies if i came across as shooting down a idea for the sake of internet points) but more now about trying to understand what went wrong operationally for Mclaren because to me it feels like more of an issue than they just got unlucky here?

or maybe that is all it was?

[morninggents]

How consistent are the tyres that Pirelli take to the races? Do they always take the same compound/construction for the softs/mediums/hards to each race or are they varied based on Pirelli's data from previous years at each circuit.
If they are not the same at each race then more testing becomes pointless.

[Richard C]

Originally Posted by morninggents

How consistent are the tyres that Pirelli take to the races? Do they always take the same compound/construction for the softs/mediums/hards to each race or are they varied based on Pirelli's data from previous years at each circuit.
If they are not the same at each race then more testing becomes pointless.

I think they just have five dry compounds (C1 - C5) and within that range, they bring three (in order... such as C1, C2, C3 or, C2, C3, C4, etc.) to each circuit. So for one weekend you might have a "Soft - C1" and "Hard - C3" and the next weekend it might be a "Soft - C3" and a "Hard - C5"! The range they select is based upon what they think will work at the circuit. I don't think they have any type of circuit specific construction at all?

I think Pirelli will occasionally introduce a new set of compounds and/or construction. For example I think mid-year in 2023 they brought new tire construction for the dry tires to address issues exposed during prior race usage. I think when they do this, they will do some type of limited testing with teams (such as in free practice at a prior GP weekend) to validate the new design/get feedback before introducing it during a future GP weekend. I also seem to think that post season testing includes additional tire testing for Pirelli??? I could be wrong on that.

It should also be noted that this past Monza race would be especially difficult on Pirelli and teams as the circuit had just been totally reworked/resurfaced. So prior year data may not have been as helpful as it might usually be.

Richard

[crmalcolm]

Almost entirely accurate. But there are now 6 compounds from C0 to C5 and C0 is the softest, C5 the hardest.

https://www.pirelli.com/tires/en-us/motorsport/f1/tires

[Richard C]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Almost entirely accurate. But there are now 6 compounds from C0 to C5 and C0 is the softest, C5 the hardest.

https://www.pirelli.com/tires/en-us/motorsport/f1/tires

I didn't realize they had a C0! I thought there was only five, not six. I had the hard to soft directions backward. I would have sworn it was as you say above (C0 is soft and C5 hard), but it is the other way around. C0 is hard and C5 is soft.

I was looking elsewhere and it sounds like the C0 used to be an older C1. They didn't shift everything down one to be harder, but rather created more room in the "hard" tire side for another option.

Richard

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Richard C

I didn't realize they had a C0! I thought there was only five, not six. I had the hard to soft directions backward. I would have sworn it was as you say above (C0 is soft and C5 hard), but it is the other way around. C0 is hard and C5 is soft.

I was looking elsewhere and it sounds like the C0 used to be an older C1. They didn't shift everything down one to be harder, but rather created more room in the "hard" tire side for another option.

Richard

I also quoted the hard to soft order wrong (my error).