After the thrilling weekend of racing in Canada, the Formula One circus moves on to Azerbaijan and the Baku Circuit where the series sole tyre supplier, Pirelli, will be bringing three different tyre compounds.
They are as follows:
P Zero White medium – less grip, less wear (used for long-race stints)
This is Pirelli's most balanced tire, with an ideal compromise between performance and durability. It is extremely versatile, but it often comes into its own on circuits that tend toward high speeds, high temperatures and high-energy loadings. It is a low working-range compound.
P Zero Yellow soft – more grip, medium wear (used for shorter-race stints and for initial portion of qualifying)
This is one of the most frequently used tires in Pirelli's range, as it strikes a balance between performance and durability, with the accent on performance. It is still geared toward speed rather than long distances, but it remains capable of providing teams with a competitive advantage at the beginning of the race when cars are carrying a full fuel load, and at the end of the race where the fuel load is much lighter and the race effectively becomes a sprint. It is a high working-range compound.
P Zero Red supersoft – highest amount of grip, highest amount of wear (used for qualifying and select race situations)
This is the second softest tire in Pirelli's range, and it is ideal for tight and twisting circuits, especially in cold weather when maximum grip is needed. The supersofts warm up rapidly, which has made it a stalwart choice for qualifying. But with increased grip comes increased degradation. It is a low working-range compound.
The Bahrain Grand Prix April 14-16 was the last time these three tyre compounds were packaged together.
Last year in Azerbaijan, the P Zero Purple ultrasoft was paired with the Red supersoft and the Yellow soft.
