What are the tire strategies for the F1 Chinese Grand Prix?

The Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix is ​​a few hours away, and if qualifying is any indication, fans can take part in an incredible race. Oscar Piastri pits George Russell for just 0.082 seconds to take pole position, while the McLaren driver has teammate Rand Norris behind him when the rights come out, just like Norris came in third.

However, while qualifying is about one-lap pace for soft compounds, the Chinese Grand Prix is ​​all about media and hard racepace. During this week, tire degradation was a major factor thanks to a newly resurfaced circuit in Shanghai. That was true in Saturday's Formula One sprint race as Lewis Hamilton escaped the field with clean air and people behind struggled to keep their medium tires at just 19 laps in the right window.

The way a driver handles 56 laps is a completely different question.

Pirelli, the exclusive tire supplier for F1, believes China's Grand Prix's two-stop strategy is “mandatory”, but how each driver will return home remains a matter of debate.

China's Grand Prix tire strategy, the number of each set of compounds that the driver can use, and why the software is still working when the lights go off. For reminders, here is how the grids line up in Shanghai.

What is the tire strategy for China's Grand Prix?

As mentioned above, tire degradation has been a major issue for drivers this week. The Shanghai circuit has resurfaced for this season, with driver grip increased, but the new surface saw the driver tearing the tires on an extension run. For example, during a Formula 1 sprint race, Max Barstappen was trying to chase Hamilton on the front, but by lap 14 Verstappen told his team that his medium tires were “dead.”

With 56 laps of taps on Sunday and medium tires worn out after just 14 laps, you can see why Pirelli believes the two-stopper is the path the team should follow.

“When it comes to strategy, the level of degradation will come to suggest that two stops are mandatory, featuring medium and hard,” said Mario Isola, Pirelli's motorsports director. Summary of Saturday's actions.

The three main options for teams and drivers are: Pirelli outlined:

Two preferred strategies from Pirelli have medium and hard, both with teams starting with medium compounds.

The first detail of a moment.

The first team starts with the media and switches to hard for a second stint, but there are options available from there. With the first option, the team will run about 12-18 laps on the hard compound, then another hard set will drill holes again to move the distance.

In the second option, the team starts with the media and switch to hard and extends that second stint to a bit of 14-20 laps. It then switches to medium at that second stop and runs at 12-16 laps in the hopes that the soft rubber will be faster in the final stint.

Given what we saw in the 19-lap F1 sprint race, that's possible, but requires tire management from the driver. However, that strategy may not be available to one team. I'll explain this soon.

Next is the third strategy. The driver starts softly at approximately 8-14 laps before finishing with a hard-hard combination. This could be a play from a team trying to pick up a spot with a soft rubber start. And we jump into it right away.

There are also other options available to teams not shown here. This starts from hard and runs long, hoping for intervention in the form of a safe vehicle. Looking at the driver behind the grid – Liam Lawson, we may adopt this strategy in the hope that other drivers are forced to pit early on in softer compounds and willing to take advantage of the opportunities that arise afterwards.

Isola mentioned the possibility in Pirelli's summary of Saturday's action.

“In fact, people who start near their backs may find it difficult to extend their first stint as long as possible before creating a place with a pit stop run,” Isola says.

However, the tires left by each driver are now working.

What kind of tires can each driver use at his Chinese Grand Prix?

The compounds that each driver can use for the Chinese Grand Prix are: According to Pirelli:

In the above, we noted that one team may not be in position to use the second option. This is a medium mediam strategy.

That team? Aston Martin. Both Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso have only one set of scrubbed media available to the Chinese Grand Prix. Given that, they may need to use the first option. There, we start with those scrubbed media before finishing with hard-hard combinations.

Or maybe they are one of the teams who chose to start with soft before using hard to close the race.

The three drivers, Lawson, Nico Hulkenberg and Esteban Ocon, each have a new media left, and are given an attractive option as China's Grand Prix unfolds.

Also, note that each driver has fresh hard tires. This is another indication that the team is hoping to rely on China's Grand Prix C2 hard tires.

Why are software played at the Chinese Grand Prix?

Even high levels of tire disassembly may still play a role on Sunday, as explained above.

why? High levels of grip combined with soft compounds can play a major role in the first place, so teams hoping to pick up spots when the lights go out may turn to C4 compounds to pick up those positions.

Pirelli has put it in graphic format here. As you can see, C4 software first gives drivers a clear advantage. Soft drivers are 150km/h faster than media drivers and much faster than hard drivers.

Of course, the trade-offs take place at the end of the stint when the grip level is gone for people with soft compounds and they need to soak in the pit before someone in the medium or hard.

Still, for teams with fresh soft tires available, it might be an option. The eight drivers, Lawson, Stroll, Alonso, Pierre Guthrie, Jack Douhan, Oliver Baerman, Carlos Seren Jr. and Gabriel Boltreto, have a fresh, soft set.

You will see the options your team will choose in a few hours.