After the weekend break, Formula 1 is back on track to host the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, eighth round of the 2022 season.
For this weekend Pirelli has decided to bring the following compounds:
Pirelli PZero White Hard C3
Pirelli PZero Yellow Medium C4
Pirelli PZero Red Soft C5
This is the most extreme choice from the point of view of softness for the tires of the Milanese manufacturer. The 2022 range, in fact, goes from C1 – the hardest compound – to C5, the softer one.
The tires on the track
- For the characteristics of the Baku street circuit, which combines the complexity of Monaco with the speed of Monza, Pirelli has selected the three softest compounds in the range: C3 as P Zero White hard, C4 as P Zero Yellow medium and C5 as P Zero Red soft. The nomination is the same as for the 2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, but this year’s tire structure and compounds are completely new.
- Baku is a city circuit with a unique personality, comprising both fast straights and extremely narrow and technical sections, especially around the famous Turn 9 area in the historic center. Consequently, compared to Monaco, where the teams opt for a setup with high downforce, in Baku there is a tendency to prefer a medium-low load, to balance on the one hand the need for grip on the tightest corners, on the other the need to reach high speeds on straights to attempt overtaking. In 2016, on this track, Valtteri Bottas – who raced for Williams and, of course, with Pirelli tires – exceeded 378 km / h, thus obtaining an unofficial record still undefeated.
- Temperatures could be high, with peaks of over 50 degrees for the asphalt, but the values can vary quite a lot along the lap due to the buildings that surround the track and draw alternating areas of light and shadow.
- Last year he won the one-stop strategy, although the race was interrupted by a red flag in the final stages. Most of the teams opted for a soft-hard strategy, where the soft was also fitted for the final three laps of the race. This year the strategies could be different, because the rule that required to mount the same tire for the start with which you got access to Q3 has been eliminated.
Mario Isolahead of car racing at Pirelli: “Before the debut in Jeddah, Baku was the fastest street circuit on the calendar. However, for the tires it is not too demanding, because there are no corners that exert enormous loads on the tires. The levels of abrasion they are low and the lateral forces contained, so having the same nomination as Monaco is a coherent choice “.
“However, it must be said that the high speeds reached on this track put the tires to the test. The key factor here is traction: the main challenge for the teams will be to find the right balance between the front and rear axles, because if it is necessary to put the temperature of the front to generate grip, knowing that the long straights will cool the tires, the heat must not be excessive at the rear, otherwise in the traction areas there is a risk of overheating. In addition, the erratic asphalt temperature contributes to making Baku a circuit with peculiar characteristics and various technical challenges, which however are the same for everyone “.
Minimum pressures at the start (slick tires)
Front: 24.5psi
Rear: 21.5 psi
Maximum camber
Front: -3.25 °
Rear: -1.75 °
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