Why we have named these compounds
For the first time in Formula 1 on the spectacular new street circuit of Jeddah, in Saudi Arabia, the 34th state to host a Grand Prix, Pirelli has chosen the three central compounds of the range, the most popular selection this season: the C2 like P Zero White hard, the C3 such as P Zero Yellow medium and the C4 like P Zero Red soft.
Jeddah is the second new circuit this year after the one in Qatar two weeks ago, but the two tracks are completely different in terms of tire stress: the Losail track is one of the most demanding of all in terms of lateral forces. Jeddah is a challenge even richer in unknowns, given that the track has just been completed and there is little data to rely on.
Existing data and simulations carried out by the teams suggest that the three core compounds of the range are the best solution for Gedda and should respond well to the challenges posed by this fast track, with a race running over a distance of 50 laps.
Characteristics of the route
- The track was conceived by the well-known circuit designer Hermann Tilke and is located in the Jeddah Corniche resort. This is the first street circuit after the Baku stage last June.
The track, which runs along the coast for a total length of 6.174 kilometers, is the longest city circuit on the calendar (the second in length after Spa) and is also probably one of the fastest, with a average speed of over 250 km / h seen in simulation: a value second only to that of Monza, the “Temple of Speed”. - Among the 27 curves of the track, Turn 13 is one of the most challenging: is a curve to the left with a banking of 12 degrees which should subject the tires to very high g-forces. Jeddah has more corners than any other track on the calendar, and the tires will be constantly working.
- Several areas of the circuit are quite narrow and with no escape routes, due to the walls very close to the edges of the track. The probability of the safety car entering the scene is quite high, and this will affect strategies.
- The Jeddah race is part of the last three stages of the season which are run at night, starting at 20:30 local time. As a result, the temperature variations of the asphalt will be different than usual, with important fluctuations between one session and another. PL1 and PL3 take place just before sunset, therefore only the FP2 on Friday and qualifying on Saturday, scheduled for 20:00, will have conditions representative of the race.
- Warm but humid conditions are expected due to the circuit’s proximity to the north coast of Jeddah. Since it has never been used before, the track will likely be ‘green’ and slippery at the start of the weekend, but the presence of Formula 2 and a Porsche competition as support races should favor the evolution of the track.
Formula 2: what to expect
Formula 2 is back on track in Saudi Arabia for the first of two final race weekends, after a long absence following the stage in Russia in September. The compounds selected are P Zero Yellow medium and P Zero Purple supersoft, the most frequent combination in this year’s championship. Oscar Piastri (Prema), confirmed as reserve driver for Alpine in Formula 1 next year, is currently leading the standings with 36 points over Guanyu Zhou (Uni-Virtuosi), recently announced as Alfa Romeo driver in the F1 team of 2022. As always, the Formula 2 drivers will have a total of six sets of tires (four medium and two supersoft) available for the three scheduled races , which they can use in any order they want over the weekend.
Mario Island, Head of F1 and Car Racing: “Jeddah represents perhaps the biggest unknown this year as the track was completed very shortly before the race. Consequently, we can only count on the simulations provided by F1 and the teams and on other information that we were able to gather to establish the nomination of the compounds. This street circuit seems to be different from any other seen so far. The high speed and the alternation of fast corners will certainly play an important role in determining the behavior of the tires. Jeddah has more corners than any other track on the calendar and one of them – the 13 – also has a 12 degree banking, so there are quite a few factors that will keep the tires constantly engaged.“.
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