Max Verstappen is set to be at a major disadvantage in the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, according to Pirelli.
The Red Bull driver, who is set to start in fifth place, only has a single set of the hard compound tyres to available, with two sets of the medium tyres.
All those around him, including the front-row pair of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton have the inverse, with two brand-new sets of the hards - Verstappen having used a set during Friday practice.
Owing to the extremely high track temperatures and the fast track layout, tyre degradation is expected to be high, with multiple stops planned.
Pirelli estimate that a two-stop is the fastest way to complete the 66 laps, starting on the mediums until Laps 15-21 before a run on the hards to Laps 38 to 44 before a second change.
Radically, a three-stop has also been proposed, but this would require the use of three sets of the soft tyres, something none of the leading contenders have available.
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