Hard tyres for Japan and India, super-soft in Korea
2012 F1 season
Pirelli has announced its tyre allocations for the Japanese, Korean and Indian Grands Prix.
For the Suzuka race Pirelli will use the soft tyre again, but replace the medium compound used last year with the hard tyre.
At Korea and India the tyre choices will remain the same as last year.
The softest available compounds will be used in Korea, and the hard and soft will be supplied for F1′s return to the Buddh International Circuit.
Here’s the full 2012 tyre allocation so far compared to last year’s:
| Circuit | 2012 Option | 2012 Prime | 2011 Option | 2011 Prime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne | Soft | Medium | Soft | Hard |
| Sepang | Medium | Hard | Soft | Hard |
| Shanghai | Soft | Medium | Soft | Hard |
| Bahrain | Soft | Medium | No race | No race |
| Catalunya | Soft | Hard | Soft | Hard |
| Monte-Carlo | Super-soft | Soft | Super-soft | Soft |
| Montreal | Super-soft | Soft | Super-soft | Soft |
| Valencia | Soft | Medium | Soft | Medium |
| Silverstone | Soft | Hard | Soft | Hard |
| Hockenheimring | Soft | Medium | No race | No race |
| Hungaroring | Soft | Medium | Super Soft | Soft |
| Spa-Francorchamps | Medium | Hard | Soft | Medium |
| Monza | Medium | Hard | Soft | Medium |
| Singapore | Super Soft | Soft | Super Soft | Soft |
| Suzuka | Soft | Hard | Soft | Medium |
| Korea | Super Soft | Soft | Super soft | Soft |
| Buddh | Soft | Hard | Hard | Soft |
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Image © Pirelli/LAT
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys) said on 12th September 2012, 11:08
I haven’t been all that impressed with Pirelli’s tyre choices of late. It seems that they’ve gone from one extreme to the other: where they offered tyres that were a puzzle to work out to begin with, in the last few races they have supplied tyres that allowed for conservative strategies, and the pole-sitter has gone on to win. I’d like to see that element of the unknown back in the mix, though perhaps not as pronounced as it once was. I want to see teams faced with the conundrum of whether or not they should make an extra stop, which is what gave us such a nail-biter in Canada.
I like Formula 1 best when there is an element of uncertainty, where the difference between first and second is a driver’s ability to go all in on a strategy and push it to the very limit. We’ve seen moments where drivers and teams have looked like they made the wrong choice at the wrong time – like Perez pitting later than Alonso in Malaysia; or McLaren committing Hamilton toa two-stop in Canada, only to see Red Bull and Ferrari double back onto a one-stop – and then brilliantly pull through.
Atticus (@atticus-2) said on 12th September 2012, 11:36
+1
Dizzy said on 12th September 2012, 12:23
Disagree, I have far prefered how the tyres have been recently compared to earlier in the year.
I’ve been enjoying the past few races a lot more than the earlier one’s.
ZanteX (@zantex) said on 12th September 2012, 15:00
+1
Mr draw said on 12th September 2012, 15:10
Singapore is going to be great, though. Last year the tyre-wear levels were extremely high, so I’m surprised to see they will use the softest compounds again. Overtaking will be hard, so the pitstop strategy is extremely important. Expect many cars to make an additional pitstop at the end of the race in order to catch up really quickly in the final laps.
electrolite (@electrolite) said on 12th September 2012, 14:28
And the good thing is, we still get to see good old fashioned wringing the car by the neck when someone chooses the extra stop.
Eggry (@eggry) said on 12th September 2012, 11:14
Oops, Korea will be mad!
raymondu999 (@raymondu999) said on 12th September 2012, 11:25
You mean like how everyone was doing supersoft-supersoft-soft last year? :P
Eggry (@eggry) said on 12th September 2012, 12:38
It seems I thought wrong. Even it is said that this year’s Pirelli is softer than last year’s, teams are actually enjoying better tyre life. It might be they got used to Pirelli. So I expect we would see same amount or less amout of pit stops in Korea compared to last year. 1 stop can’t be ruled out andI believe some drivers or teams would try it. Maybe Sauber and Perez?
I should say I don’t prefer recent trend(conservative choice of tyre) but when it comes to Korea, they don’t have softer choice now so ot might be theirbest effort. I think Pirelli should make tyre much softer next year because teams are much more experienced now.
xeroxpt (@) said on 12th September 2012, 20:36
Ive enjoyed Korea ever since it arrived on the calender 2010 was strange but 2011 was magnificent, cars running so close in high speed corners, just great, insane.
electrolite (@electrolite) said on 12th September 2012, 12:39
So where we had a fairly boring race and there were marbles everywhere they’ve chosen the same for Korea again?
Mind you, this is 2012, so you never know…
xeroxpt (@) said on 12th September 2012, 20:36
What? Korea was fantastic! you have the 2010 memories on.
Spani said on 12th September 2012, 13:06
They have chosen the same for India as well, where teams were running the soft tyres for over 20 laps, in a 60 lap race last year, and still not really losing any pace. Vettel won last year, having done about 10 out of the 60laps on the hard tyre.
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner) said on 12th September 2012, 13:50
They have, but the compound allocations have been switched around so the amount of soft tyres will be more limited than last year.
necrodethmortem (@necrodethmortem) said on 12th September 2012, 13:46
@keithcollantine You seem to have mixed up the option and prime tyres for India 2011.
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner) said on 12th September 2012, 13:53
@necrodethmortem http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/95643 Check out that link.
necrodethmortem (@necrodethmortem) said on 12th September 2012, 14:02
I see. I didn’t know Pirelli bring an extra set of options, I assumed the option just meant the softer tyre. Thanks for that.
sato113 (@sato113) said on 12th September 2012, 21:14
that was only last year. Pirelli made the softer tyre the ‘prime’ and the hards the ‘option’. can’t remember why.
Mayank jain (@mjf1fan) said on 12th September 2012, 14:30
I expected for super soft and mediums for indian gp….but with the choices pirellies made, its goin to be 1 stop strategy for most of the teams :(
Umar Majid (@um1234) said on 12th September 2012, 17:55
good choices of tyres by pirelli this time, the last two races havent matched the start of the season!
xeroxpt (@) said on 13th September 2012, 2:52
yes, Mclaren didn’t win in Australia, stop with the lottery non-sense.
Kimi4WDC said on 13th September 2012, 1:10
Where are the Yellows!?!?!? Silver ones are boring. Love Medium and Soft combination.