The strategists of the 10 teams face a tough call when determining the Mexico City Grand Prix plans for their drivers.
Tyre supplier Pirelli has indicated there are more than the usual number of options available to the teams for the 71-lap race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
For the second consecutive weekend, Pirelli has tried to shake things up by opting for a two-compound difference between the hard and medium rubber, as was the case for the United States Grand Prix in Austin seven days ago.
On that occasion, it was a plan that did not work as the hard tyre was barely used, and for those who did, they struggled.
For the race at Mexico City, however, Mercedes driver George Russell has indicated that the hard could be a more viable option.
"I don't think the strategy will be as clear-cut as Austin, with the soft-medium one-stop," said Russell, speaking to the media, including RacingNews365. "So that's the only thing we're hoping on to mix things up."
According to Pirelli, starting on the medium and running through to laps 42-48 before taking on the soft, is the ideal strategy.
The second-best alternative is again setting off on the medium but then taking on the hard around laps 26 to 32.
The next three options all take into consideration a soft-tyre start, which may be the way McLaren goes with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
Team principal Andrea Stella noted after qualifying his surprise that the red-striped compound was not graining as much as a year ago at this circuit, suggesting greater durability.
The one-stop options in starting on softs see a switch to the mediums around laps 23 to 29, or the hards on laps 20 to 26.
The final alternative is a two-stopper, starting on softs, changing to mediums on laps 16 to 22, before a late final stint on the softs for the closing 23 to 17 laps.
In terms of available tyre sets, polesitter Norris and second-on-the-grid Charles Leclerc in his Ferrari both have a new set of softs available to them compared to all the other drivers behind them in the top 10.
In terms of the hard and medium tyres, 18 of the 20 drivers have a new set of each compound available. The anomalies are Aston Martin duo Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso. Stroll does not have a new set of medium, and Alonso a new set of hard.
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