Formula 1 is approaching its next event with the Bahrain Grand Prix, which will take place in Sepang, and Pirelli, the tire manufacturer, is already preparing for the occasion. Although the Grand Prix was initially scheduled for April, the current political circumstances in the region have forced a change of plans.
The race will come with a great challenge, as Pirelli has not been present in Kuala Lumpur since 2017. This makes the selection of tire compounds and their preparation more complex. Dario Marrafuschi, motorsport director at Pirelli, has commented that they will rely on data collected during their last visit to Malaysia.
Marrafuschi emphasized that they need to choose the right compounds that ensure good competition without compromising tire durability. ‘The last race in Malaysia was in 2017, and we have to remember that back then we had a new design of wider tires. So we will make our choices based on that year and not on previous ones,’ he stated.
Pirelli will use the medium, soft, and super soft compounds, equivalent to C2-C3-C4 on their scale of 1 to 5. Additionally, the adjustments must be quick, as the company will not have time to send personnel for further analyses, and the tires will have to be shipped by air instead of by sea.
With such an unstable calendar, Marrafuschi has acknowledged that the situation is complicated. ‘We consider all scenarios, and we must be flexible. If a change occurs, we can choose to produce reserve tires for the following races,’ he added.
With only ten weeks to prepare for the Grand Prix, Pirelli will have to act quickly to ensure that the expectations of drivers and teams are met at one of the most iconic circuits in the Formula 1 scene.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
