Pirelli chooses its tires for Bahrain, Spain, and Monaco

Pirelli has unveiled the tire allocations for the fourth to sixth rounds of the 2012 Formula 1 World Championship, taking place in Bahrain, Spain, and Monaco.

In Bahrain, the P Zero White medium and P Zero Yellow soft will be used just like in Australia and China this year. In Spain, the P Zero Silver hard and P Zero Yellow soft will be available; this will be the first time this combination is used. Finally, the P Zero Yellow soft and the P Zero Red supersoft have been chosen for the race in Monte Carlo, marking the debut of the softest option of the range in 2012.

The tire choices for Bahrain take into account the high temperatures and the medium grip of the Middle Eastern circuit. The hard tire, which will be seen in Spain, will be chosen to withstand the strong lateral loads exerted on the tires at the Circuit de Catalunya. The choice of the soft compound alongside it will broaden the range of possible strategies. Monaco is the slowest and most winding track of the season, and the supersoft will make its debut there to maximize grip during the lap.

The rule states that each team must receive six sets of the hardest compound and five of the softest compound during a weekend, under normal conditions. Pirelli will also bring, to each race, its wet weather compounds: Cinturato Intermediate Green (4 sets per driver) and Cinturato Blue Wet (3 per driver).

Paul Hembery, Pirelli Motorsport Director: « Our proposals are being made this year to push the performance window, as seen in our latest choices. Only the super soft tire features the same compound as last year. The other compounds are softer and therefore faster, and were designed to encourage closer racing and a wider range of strategies ».

The tires selected by Pirelli, in 2012, up to now:

[From the official Pirelli press release]