Key decision made as F1 prepares for debut event

F1 will be making its long-awaited debut at the Madring in mid-September, with the circuit becoming the new host of the Spanish Grand Prix.

The Madring, which was confirmed as an addition to the F1 schedule two and a half years ago, winds through the streets and purpose-built sections of the Spanish capital.

As with any new circuit, tyre behaviour remains largely unknown, with no historical data for Pirelli to draw upon. 

That uncertainty has led the Italian manufacturer to err on the side of caution, nominating the C2, C3, and C4 compounds to give teams the widest possible strategic window during the race.

The circuit's combination of tight, slow-speed corners and heavy braking zones places significant thermal demands on the rubber, while the abrasive surface, typical of newly laid street circuit asphalt, is expected to generate elevated degradation rates.

“Our analysis of the Madring indicates that the loads acting on the tyres are comparable to those seen at circuits such as Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps,” Pirelli said. 

“The choice of the medium range is therefore intended, based on the characteristics of the track, to favour a two-stop strategy and provide greater protection against the risk of excessive overheating in the event of high temperatures, a situation to which the softest compound in the range would be more susceptible.”

Pirelli has also confirmed its tyre nominations for the two races that precede it in the Netherlands and Italy.

The round at Zandvoort will see the same range used in Madrid, while Pirelli has selected the softest allocation for Monza, bringing the C3, C4 and C5 tyres to the high-speed track.