Pirelli strategies: single pit stop is best option, but watch out for soft tires | 2024 Mexican GP
Today at 12:08 PM
On Saturday evening at the 4.304-kilometre Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, Ferrari secured an unexpected pole position with Carlos Sainz. The Spaniard managed to outpace both Max Verstappen and Lando Norris by at least two-tenths, a remarkable achievement for Ferrari and the insiders. However, a step up in performance, combined with Carlos Sainz’s precise driving, has once again placed Ferrari at the front of the grid. The race is where Ferrari's strengths will come into play, and we will discover the recommended strategies and pit stop windows from Pirelli for the Mexico Grand Prix.
As we arrive on Sunday, race day, the focus shifts to preparing the cars for the long distance. After the speed test from last night, the vehicles will “transform” by loading 105 kg of fuel. With this fuel load, the SF-24 has proven to be highly effective with both Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc. The two drivers are the only ones to achieve times around 21:0 – 21:1 on multiple laps with the medium tire, which is expected to be the starting compound for tonight’s Grand Prix.
However, the pace shown by Lando Norris and Max Verstappen could be quite effective, with a gap of about one to two tenths. The start will be crucial, and drivers will aim to escape to secure as much clean air as possible. Temperature management will be central to handling tires, brakes, and especially the Power Unit.
Options Open for Recovery
Returning to the strategies, Pirelli recommends a single pit stop due to the manageable stress on the C3, C4, and C5 tires. There remains the possibility of a double pit stop with a more aggressive S-M-M strategy. A more conservative option is also available with S-H to cover the entire race distance, although the hard tire is somewhat of an unknown since almost no driver has tested this compound.
In terms of available sets, nearly all drivers have a set of hard tires they can use for the race. Regarding the medium compound, all drivers except Zhou have a new set of this tire, which will likely be the choice for the start. Watch out for Max Verstappen, who might take the gamble of pushing harder to attempt a double stop with M-H-M, as he has two new sets of medium tires available.
Source: f1ingenerale
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