Saturday: Advantage to hard tires according to Pirelli

It is McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton who secures pole position for the second time in a row this season ahead of his teammate Jenson Button, following the qualifying session for the Malaysian Grand Prix. Both drivers were equipped with Pirelli P Zero White medium tires to set their best time, with Hamilton clocking a time of 1’36”219.

The tire strategy was the key to qualifying, with reigning World Champion Sebastian Vettel opting for a different approach. The Red Bull driver decided to use the hard P Zero Silver compound for his final run, which he used to set his best time (6th in Q3). He will thus be the only driver in the top 10 to start the race on the hardest compound. All the other drivers decided to hit the track in qualifying, with no one staying in the garage.

Hamilton managed to set the pole time on his first run on medium tires during the final phase of qualifying. He was thus able to afford the luxury of skipping a final outing and preserving his tires when it became clear that he would no longer be threatened. Button, on the other hand, completed two runs on track, setting his best time during his second attempt in the final moments of the session.

It is worth noting that the two former World Champions Michael Schumacher and Kimi Räikkönen also delivered excellent performances. The Mercedes driver qualified third with the P Zero medium; his best grid position since his return to Formula 1. Kimi Räikkönen, returning to F1 after a two-year absence, used the same tires to qualify fifth. He posted an identical time to that of Mark Webber but received a five-place grid penalty (gearbox change).

All the top teams tried to use hard tires during the first phase of qualifying, although some were forced to use the medium compound. The qualifying took place in dry conditions, with an ambient temperature of 31°C and a humidity level of 63%.

The white medium P Zero tires were then used during the second session, with Räikkönen setting the fastest time. Williams driver Pastor Maldonado just missed the Top 10 and will start with the tire compound of his choice.

The Sepang circuit has an abrasive surface, placing high lateral loads on the tires. The morning showers had little effect on grip levels. Last year, Pirelli designated the soft and hard compounds for the Malaysian Grand Prix, but this year the compounds are much softer, with the new silver P Zero (hard) being approximately the same as the 2011 medium compound.

Paul Hembery, Director of Pirelli Motorsport: It will undoubtedly be one of the most demanding races of the year for the tires, which will push the limits of their performance on a track known for causing degradation. Therefore, tire management will be critical, and strategies start today in qualifying as we have seen today, with teams having to compromise between immediate gains and long-term advantages. It could be a big advantage to start the race on hard tires, for example, which are expected to last about 25 laps; but the fastest lap times in qualifying come from the P Zero white, which is just under half a second per lap faster. We expect to see three stops from drivers who took part in Q3 on medium tires, and we might see them make relatively short stints compared to those who chose the hard tires, which have been solid so far this weekend.

The tires used by the Top 10:

Hamilton – Medium

Button – Medium

Schumacher – Medium

Webber – Medium

Räikkönen – Medium

Vettel – Hard

Grosjean – Medium

Rosberg – Medium

Alonso – Medium

Perez – Medium

[From the official Pirelli press release]