Pirelli has nominated softer tyre compounds for next month’s Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix at Imola, which will see the first use of Formula 1’s new ‘Alternative Tyre Allocation’.
F1 is testing the ATA at two race weekends this year as part of an effort to determine whether it can reduce the number of tyres it uses without negatively affecting the competition.
Drivers will be permitted just 11 sets of tyres instead of the usual 13. At an ordinary weekend, each driver receives eight sets of soft tyres, three sets of mediums and two hards. The ATA will change that to four sets of softs, four mediums and three hards at Imola, and again at one further race this year.
The ATA also specifies which tyres drivers may use in each phase of qualifying. They will only be allowed to use hard compound tyres in Q1, mediums in Q2 and softs in Q3.
When asked by RaceFans last month, some drivers expressed concerns over the plan to implement the ATA at Imola due to the low temperatures typically seen at the track. Last year’s race saw the lowest temperatures of the season: The ambient temperatures peaked at just 14C during the grand prix, while the track surface only reached 18C.
“I hope it’s not going to be cold in Imola. Otherwise it’s going to be quite tricky,” said Max Verstappen.
Pirelli has responded by selecting its softest range of tyres for Imola this year. The C3 and C4 specification will be used as well as the C5, which is one stage softer than was used last year.
This range of tyres will be used for the first time at the next round of the championship in Azerbaijan, as it was last year. The tyre compound selection for the Miami Grand Prix is also unchanged: Drivers will have the C2, C3 and C4 compounds available.
2023 F1 tyre compound nominations
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2023 F1 season
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