Pirelli claims ‘uncertainty’ of Hungary Grand Prix tyre strategies after Friday’s action

Pirelli has suggested there is ‘uncertainty’ in the possible tyre strategies ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix after Friday’s Formula 1 action.

Feature image credit: Pirelli

Pirelli suggests the paddock remains uncertain on which way to tackle the Hungarian Grand Prix, ahead of the two-week summer shutdown, with the Italian manufacturer suggesting there is ‘uncertainty’ over how many pit stops will be conducted on Sunday’s race day.

Out of 11 teams, six have retained both sets of hard tyres whilst the rest have used one set, suggesting the two-stop strategy might be on the cards early doors into the weekend.

Pirelli confirms this suggestion, confirming that the teams faced higher levels of degradation in the second hour of practice, meaning the two-stop might give an advantage over a one-stop race on Sunday.

Given the greater mechanical grip given by the soft compound tyres, the red-walled Pirellis proved to be the best tyre to show car performance, given it was able to deliver greater grip on the first laps.

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However, the sole manufacturer confirmed the medium compounds showed ‘a degree’ of graining on the front-left, the side of the car which faces the most brutal of conditions given the clockwise nature of the circuit. Following Friday’s action, Pirelli said:

“We will get a clearer picture [on Saturday] once the teams have completed their analysis of today’s data, but the indications from the opening two hours of free practice suggest there is still uncertainty over the number of pit stops we are likely to see in Sunday’s race. Six teams have retained two sets of Hard tyres, while all the others have already used at least one, a sign that there is not yet a unanimous view on the best way to tackle the Hungarian Grand Prix.

“Given the higher level of degradation observed during the second session, when the drivers pushed harder, a two-stop strategy appears capable of offering an advantage over a one-stop race. However, the difficulty of overtaking at the Hungaroring must also be taken into account, as track position remains a decisive factor at this circuit.

“Track grip was relatively low throughout the day, and the Soft proved to be the compound that best showcased the performance of the cars, thanks to the greater mechanical grip it delivered from the very first laps. By contrast, the Medium showed a degree of graining on the front-left tyre.”

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After two hours of practice, on an ever-evolving circuit, Pirelli has claimed that the performance gap between their soft and medium holds at around eight-tenths of a second, which stands in line with their pre-event simulations. However, they confirmed the teams will need to focus on protecting the rear axles around the Hungaroring, whilst managing front tyre degradation.

In the early practice sessions, the track was clearly dusty, with the likes of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton and Alpine’s FP1 Rookie Paul Aron struggling for grip as they curled around the final corner. However, conditions are expected to improve, aiding front-tyre wear in the process.

“In general, protecting the rear axle is crucial at this circuit, while managing an inevitable level of front tyre degradation, which should nevertheless decrease as the track continues to evolve over the course of the weekend,” Pirelli continued.

“The performance gap between the Soft and Medium compounds was around eight tenths of a second, in line with pre-event simulations. Attention now turns to the opening phase of qualifying tomorrow, where it will not be easy for the drivers to identify the optimal window for both the preparation lap and the flying lap on such a short circuit.”

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Kamron Kent

Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.

I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

Kamron Kent

Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.