All articles tagged with #tyre management
Max Verstappen emerged as the fastest driver in long-run simulations during Friday practice for the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang, Malaysia. While Red Bull showed strong race pace, Mercedes struggled to evaluate a new upgrade package amidst high tyre wear. McLaren faced unexpected issues in the second sector, and Audi showed improved performance compared to the previous race in Baku.
The upcoming Formula 1 race in Las Vegas presents unique challenges for teams due to the unusually low temperatures. Engineers must ensure the Pirelli compounds work effectively and manage overall car cooling, which will impact aero specifications. The new track surface and potential bumps add to the unknowns. Tyre management will be crucial, as teams need to find the operating window for optimal performance. Adjusting car cooling and downforce levels will be a balancing act, but designing new parts for one race is a luxury under the cost cap.
Carlos Sainz believes that Ferrari's tyre weakness was exposed during the Spanish Grand Prix, as he struggled with tyre management and was outclassed by Mercedes. Despite introducing comprehensive upgrades, Ferrari's race pace was poor due to the high-speed corners and tyre wear at the Barcelona circuit. Sainz praised his team for fast-tracking the updates but believes they haven't been able to exploit them yet as they brought them to their weakest track of the season.
Red Bull faced rare issues but still led the way in FP1 at the 2023 Australian Grand Prix, while mixed weather and data system trouble resulted in truncated practice running. The teams lack practice data, which means they will have to make educated guesses regarding final tweaks for FP3. Tyre management is set to be critical for all the teams, as the Melbourne track surface has changed compared to last year, and maintaining the ideal tyre temperature operating windows will be the critical factor. Saturday afternoon is set to be colder than Friday, which will put the focus on tyre warm-up.