Pirelli plans aggressive strategies in Monaco

On the occasion of the Monaco Grand Prix, Pirelli is offering teams, for the first time this season, the softest tires in its range. The Italian manufacturer believes that this choice could lead to different strategies in tomorrow’s race in order to achieve a good result.

The significant degradation of the super soft tires, although less severe than expected according to the drivers, might push the teams to opt for a radical strategy on Sunday.

However, there is no question of seeing four-stop strategies like in Turkey or Spain. Paul Hembery, director of Pirelli motorsport, expects drivers to make two stops in the race. On the other hand, Hembery does not know if it will be more judicious to start with the soft or super-soft tires.

The teams will have to make a decision this afternoon since the drivers in the top 10 must start the race with the tires used in the last part of the qualifications. This is why the Red Bull drivers have limited themselves to just one fast lap during the last two events on the calendar.

« If I were in Q2, and therefore qualified outside the top 10, I would want to try to have a longer first stint to overtake the competitors in front of me by using the softs and then putting the super softs at the end when you have less fuel onboard, » explains Paul Hembery.

Here’s a real puzzle in store for the teams this afternoon, given the importance of securing a good grid position in the Principality.