Two weeks after the Turkish Grand Prix, Formula 1 is back as the protagonist and does so with the United States Grand Prix, to be held in the Texas capital Austin. For the 17th event of the 2021 Formula 1 World Championship, Pirelli has decided to bring the following compounds:
Pirelli PZero White Hard C2
Pirelli PZero Yellow Medium C3
Pirelli PZero Red Soft C4
These are the core compounds of Pirelli’s 2021 range, which goes from C1 – the hardest compound – to C5, the softer one.
Why those compounds were chosen
- After missing the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Austin returns to the Formula 1 calendar this year with a slightly revamped appearance. During 2020 the track underwent a partial resurfacing which affected about 40% of its total length. Although the roughness of the new asphalt has not yet been measured, on the basis of available data Pirelli has confirmed the same nomination made for Austin two years ago, with the three central compounds in the range: C2 as P Zero White hard, C3 as P Zero Yellow medium and C4 like P Zero Red soft.
- These tires are well suited to the different challenges posed by the famous Texan circuit, which entered the Formula 1 calendar for the first time in 2012. The track is in fact very varied with a layout inspired by the curves of some of the most famous tracks in the world.
- At this time of year, the weather in Texas can be unpredictable. As a result, compounds have been selected that are quite adaptable to a wide variety of temperatures, even though this year’s race takes place a little earlier than last time.
Characteristics of the track
- The circuit has been resurfaced in some places: the finish straight (including the pit lane) up to the exit of turn 1, the exit of turn 9 up to turn 10, the exit of turn 11 up to turn 12 and from turn 15 to turn 19.
- Some bumps in the asphalt (between Turn 2 and Turn 3, as well as around Turns 4, 6, 10 and 14) have been fixed using a smoothing process to make the surface more even.
- One of COTA’s most unusual features is Turn 1, an uphill hairpin to the left. This makes it very difficult to determine where to brake, especially at the start. Austin is one of the most demanding tracks ever in terms of lateral forces, with several high-speed corners between 250 and 270 km / h in the first sector and lateral forces up to 4.5 g (especially on turn 6, for three seconds ).
- The Circuit of the Americas hasn’t been used much recently, so the track could be quite “green” at the beginning of the weekend. However, Formula 4 and W series (instead of Formula 2 and Formula 3) are on the agenda, which will help tire the asphalt and achieve a high degree of track evolution.
- In 2019 he won Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas’ two-stop strategy (medium-hard-medium), while his teammate Lewis Hamilton finished second with a medium-to-hard one-stop strategy. All three compounds played an important role during the race.
Mario Isola, head of car racing at Pirelli: “Although the teams have accumulated a lot of experience on the Austin track, this year they are tackling a track that has changed a bit compared to 2019, when we last raced here. About 40% of the track was resurfaced, but due to the restrictions for COVID-19 we could not send our staff to analyze the new asphalt, so its characteristics are a question mark for everyone and we will discover the final effects on the tires and on the performance of the car in general only when we are there “.
“As usual, the tire nomination was made on the basis of data obtained before the race, with the range’s mid-range compounds well suited to the circumstances. The battle for championship victory is on a tightrope, so it’s it’s clear that the closer we get to the end of the season, the more every single element of the strategy will be decisive, as we saw in the last race in Turkey “.
Minimum pressures at the start
Front: 21.5 psi
Rear: 19.0 psi
Maximum camber
Front: -3.50 °
Rear: -2.00 °
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