Pirelli choose softer tyres for first three races
2012 F1 season
Bruno Senna tests Pirelli's 2012 tyres in Jerez
Pirelli have announced the tyre compounds which will be available at the first three races of the 2012 season.
F1′s official tyre supplier will bring softer selections from their range for the opening races, compared to those which were used last year.
Pirelli have previously announced their 2012 soft, medium and hard compounds are softer than those used last year.
The tyre choices for the first three races are as follows:
| Race | 2012 tyre compounds | 2011 tyre compounds |
| Australian Grand Prix | Soft/medium | Soft/hard |
| Malaysian Grand Prix | Medium/hard | Soft/hard |
| Chinese Grand Prix | Soft/medium | Soft/hard |
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Denzel Brown (@lewiswdc11) said on 15th February 2012, 15:51
Meduim hard? How’s that going to work?
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 15th February 2012, 15:53
@lewiswdc11 I don’t follow – what makes you think it won’t work?
Denzel Brown (@lewiswdc11) said on 15th February 2012, 15:59
I don’t understand why Pirelli would take 2 harder compound tyres to a race weekend? Malaysia isn’t really a track like Hungary where the degradation is off the roof, so hence my comment hows it going to work for the teams in particular, I know they’ve made last years soft tyre this years medium tyre but surely couldn’t they use the Softer compound to make the race more interesting and exciting to spice it up a bit.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 15th February 2012, 16:11
Hungary isn’t a particularly tough track for tyres, hence they used the softest possible tyre combination there last year. Whereas Sepang is very hot and has a lot of long, quick corners. I believe the surface is more abrasive too.
Given that we haven’t seen the new tyres in action yet, I wouldn’t leap to the conclusion that they need to “use the softer compound to make the race more interesting and exciting to spice it up a bit”.
Andy G (@toothpickbandit) said on 15th February 2012, 16:13
?? Malaysia degradation was crazy last year if I recall?
Slr (@slr) said on 15th February 2012, 17:16
Yes, drivers were stopping three or four times last year.
Younger Hamii (@younger-hamii) said on 15th February 2012, 19:17
And it caught out McLaren with Hamilton having to use 3 sets of Primes because he used up an extra set of the Options in Qualifying,one of them which he flatspotted
BasCB (@bascb) said on 15th February 2012, 17:38
But if we take in account, that the tyres this year are softer, It would meant that especially for Malaysia, Pirelli bring more or less the same hardness of compounds they did last year lewiswdc11, don’t they?
To me the bigger change is, that for this year they are trying to bring two compounds that might both work with the track instead of having one type everyone wants and the other one just because its mandatory.
Younger Hamii (@younger-hamii) said on 15th February 2012, 19:00
I believe the reason why Pirelli took Softer compounds for Hungary last year is the lack of rubber on the tarmac, which is mainly due to the lack of Motorsport venues held there during the year. Yes there’s GP2 & GP3 but obviously they’re held on the same weekend as F1
UKFan (@) said on 15th February 2012, 17:15
They have know shortened the gap between tyres but they are also shortening the gap between chosen compounds, Pirelli is also confident that the tyres will degrade less and they have removed the oversteering tendency therefore they are becoming just like Bridgestone which can only mean that this upcoming season will be just like 2010 no overtaking!
Mike (@mike) said on 15th February 2012, 17:30
Pirelli have stated that the tyre wear will be more aggressive than at the end of last year.
They are a long way from becoming like the Bridgestone tyres.
George (@george) said on 15th February 2012, 18:02
We didn’t have DRS or KERS in 2010 though.
timi (@timi) said on 16th February 2012, 20:38
@UKFan the reason as to why there were’nt many overtakes in 2010 was not due to the bridgestones as much as it was due to the aerodynamic regs and the wake of dirty air they leave behind, hence why the DRS was brought in (and the front wing adjuster before it).
The problem with the bridgestones in my view was the fact you could get almost 90% out of one set of the softer compound. Thus meaning you literally pitted because you had to
GeorgeDaviesF1 (@georgedaviesf1) said on 15th February 2012, 15:54
Medium and Hard will be hard to tell apart in Malaysia, not that it’ll matter, I probably wont be watching that race
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 15th February 2012, 15:56
@georgedaviesf1 The markings on the tyres this year are much more prominent than they were last year, I doubt it’ll be a problem.
See here: http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2012/01/25/pirelli-reveal-softer-compounds-tyre-colours-2012/pirelli_2012-f1_tyres_01/
dennis (@dennis) said on 16th February 2012, 7:57
@keithcollantine
I remember seeing “orange tyres” still on some cars at the Jerez test for installation laps. Where did those go? Were they last year’s spec?
BasCB (@bascb) said on 15th February 2012, 17:40
I would say that in Malaysia we are pretty likely to be treated to the blue and green tyres!
James (@jamesf1) said on 15th February 2012, 15:54
They should have waited until after pre-season testing before announcing which tyres they were going to use – try and keep teams guessing. Although I’m sure they’d have done extensive testing on all tyres anyway, I feel it would have given an extra twist.
Mike (@mike) said on 15th February 2012, 17:33
I’m not sure the teams are getting race spec tyres for testing anyway.
Enigma (@enigma) said on 15th February 2012, 16:04
Good choices – tyres next to each other in degradation/speed, instead of one inbetween. With tyres already closer to each other it should, hopefully, make for some different strategies.
BasCB (@bascb) said on 15th February 2012, 17:40
I hope for the same.
sato113 (@sato113) said on 15th February 2012, 16:19
Medium/Hard for Malaysia is harder than last year keith!
sato113 (@sato113) said on 15th February 2012, 16:21
ok nevermind. I see you’re taking in to account the new tyres are softer than last year.
Mike (@mike) said on 15th February 2012, 17:32
That, and when writing titles it’s had to explain all the nitty gritty in just a few words.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 15th February 2012, 20:40
@Mike I’m glad at least one person gets that!
vjanik said on 15th February 2012, 16:21
Pirelli chose softer tyres for the first and third race.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 15th February 2012, 17:03
Read paragraph three (and see similar comment below).
F1_Dave said on 15th February 2012, 16:22
I just hope the degredation isn’t as bad as it was last year & the differences between worn tyres/new tyres not as big.
There were many situations in 2011 where the difference in compounds/wear made passing too easy & left the car on the older tyres totally defenceless, Not exciting to watch!
Bazzek said on 15th February 2012, 16:55
It seems malaysia is actually getting harder tires, or is that a typo in the article
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 15th February 2012, 17:02
No, because this year’s tyres are softer than last year’s (it does say in the article). More here:
Pirelli reveal softer compounds and new tyre colours for 2012
Fixy (@fixy) said on 15th February 2012, 16:56
So I guess the 2012 Malaysian GP will be the first race without Pirelli’s yellow tyre?
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 15th February 2012, 17:02
@Fixy That’s right – the soft tyre was used at every race last year.
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner) said on 15th February 2012, 22:44
@Fixy Well spotted.
Mike (@mike) said on 15th February 2012, 17:36
I’m quite looking forward to it.
I think Pirelli’s biggest concern should be keeping a high amount of wear but at the same time trying to reduce the amount of marbles that spear off the tyre.
thespuditron (@spud) said on 15th February 2012, 18:24
Looking at the selection for the Malaysian GP, I thought there had to be two “steps” between the tire compounds. Medium/Hard is just one step.
Rather than be a rule as such, was this just a suggestion from the FIA to Bridgestone/Pirelli? Or am I getting completely mixed up with something different here?
sato113 (@sato113) said on 15th February 2012, 18:39
there doesn’t have to be two steps between compounds. don’t forget last year we had softs and supersofts at a few races.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 15th February 2012, 21:02
@spud They’re all just one step apart, and as @sato113 rightly says there has never been a rule against that.
thespuditron (@spud) said on 15th February 2012, 21:05
I’m confusing it with something else then. (I can’t think what though). :P I stand corrected so.
Younger Hamii (@younger-hamii) said on 15th February 2012, 19:23
Im quite keen to see which compounds Pirelli bring to Bahrain(if it’s even given the green light) for the first time, probably Medium/Soft or Super-soft(highly doubt it) if a bit ambitious/brave given the environment & track traditionally a bit dusty
AdrianMorse (@adrianmorse) said on 15th February 2012, 19:28
In this autosport article, I also read that Pirelli are bringing five sets of the softer, and six sets of the harder compound to a race weekend. Does anyone have further information on this, e.g. does this mean 2 sets of the softer compound for qualy and race?
AdrianMorse (@adrianmorse) said on 15th February 2012, 20:06
Er..sorry, it’s the same as last year, of course. When I read the article I inexplicably leaped to the conclusion that Pirelli were bringing one set of softs less to a race weekend.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 15th February 2012, 21:00
@adrianmorse Afraid so, no change there!
sato113 (@sato113) said on 15th February 2012, 23:24
I thought they were going to bring less primes to weekends because no one used them as much?
il Leone said on 15th February 2012, 21:39
All I want from Pirelli are a Super-Soft/Medium Canadian GP if it is dry.
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner) said on 15th February 2012, 22:55
Interestingly, a completely different strategy to last year. The performance difference between the compounds should be much smaller this year (0.5-0.6s I heard) and that coupled with the first 3 races only having 1 step between the compounds as opposed to 2 last year AND softer tyres should address the fact that most teams managed to figure out last years Pirelli’s and make them last quite well.