Drivers prefer super-softs for first Baku race

2016 European Grand Prix

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Drivers have overwhelmingly preferred the super-soft compound in their tyre selections for Formula One’s first race in Baku next week.

With the ultra-soft tyre not available for F1’s debut at the Baku City Circuit, most drivers will take seven or eight sets of the next-softest rubber for the European Grand Prix.

All drivers must have one set of medium and one set of soft tyres available for the race, but many have only selected a single set of the harder medium compound.

Nico Rosberg is one of those two choose two sets of mediums, in a departure from his team mate. Lewis Hamilton along with Esteban Gutierrez plus both Red Bull, Renault and Toro Rosso drivers have opted for the most aggressive selection including eight sets of super-softs and just one set of mediums.

DriverTeamTyres
Lewis HamiltonMercedes
Nico RosbergMercedes
Sebastian VettelFerrari
Kimi RaikkonenFerrari
Felipe MassaWilliams
Valtteri BottasWilliams
Daniel RicciardoRed Bull
Max VerstappenRed Bull
Nico HulkenbergForce India
Sergio PerezForce India
Kevin MagnussenRenault
Jolyon PalmerRenault
Daniil KvyatToro Rosso
Carlos Sainz JnrToro Rosso
Marcus EricssonSauber
Felipe NasrSauber
Fernando AlonsoMcLaren
Jenson ButtonMcLaren
Pascal WehrleinManor
Rio HaryantoManor
Romain GrosjeanHaas
Esteban GutierrezHaas

2016 European Grand Prix

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    Keith Collantine
    Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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    13 comments on “Drivers prefer super-softs for first Baku race”

    1. Has there been any race where the harder tyre is preferred? I feel like they need to shift all the tyres down a spot.

      1. agreed! I want two stop races to be the minimum.

      2. @mike In China actually.
        The problem is that they need mant of the softest tyre during qualifying so it always looks like they prefer the softest compound

        1. @siegfreyco Ah, thanks for the info! I think you make a good point.

    2. How they can be so sure to have only one medium set for the weekend? Don’t have any data from there!

      1. @bilarxos they probably have data that suggests the track will have a smooth surface like Sochi has so tyre wear won’t be high possibly?

    3. When Pirelli introduced the ultra soft I assumed they would finally try to be more aggressive on their tire choices and after all we’re still to often stuck with the harder ones…

      1. That’s because Ultra Soft is not available for Baku.

        1. @zimkazimka I think @xtwl is saying he thought Pirelli would be more aggressive on their choices, not the teams.

          1. Indeed.

        2. @zimkazimkaI had indeed expected Pirelli to make more bold choices. It’s been to obvious every single time which tyre not to use. For example if the softest available is the worst to race on we could see more exciting Q2s as some teams really want to avoid starting on it whilst others would then use it as a bridge to reach Q3.

    4. I still think they should have chosen ultrasoft instead of the medium since it’s a temporary street although a new circuit, but still.

    5. Noone could have seen this comming. With Pirellis diverse and finetuned tyre allotment the teams yet again all go for the softest tyre… This is an ongoing joke.

      Someone who is desperate will try the mediums in the race and thats all we will see of them. My money is on P1 having stretched out the super softs way more than “expected” but the odds are almost negative on that bet.

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