New Times ADVeRTisiNG sUPPLemeNT MIAMI RACE WEEK 2023 GUiDe May 4-10, 2023 15 NEW TIMES ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT MIAMI RACE WEEK 2023 GUIDE May 4-10, 2023 15 The least risky approach would seem to be a one-stop strategy, where you’re not losing time in the pit lane or opening yourself up to the possibility of errors. AP: We’re looking for the fastest way around. We have to make a pit stop at some point and that means overtaking people when you get back on track. So we have to factor in how easy or how difficult it is to do that. If there’s a race where overtaking is particularly difficult, and a two-stop is only marginally quicker, you’ll typically find that most people will do one-stop. Is tire strategy affected by where you qualify? AP: Absolutely. Last year’s Brazilian Grand Prix was a good example. We had both cars starting near the back for the main race. We put Fernando Alonso on a three-stop strategy, which on paper was a bit slower than a two-stop, which most other people did. However, when you have a very early stop [Alonso first changed tires on lap 14] you’re out of phase with everyone else. So he wasn’t in traffic or trying to overtake people on track. He was doing the overtaking when others were in the pits. Then after his last stop he was on a much younger set of tires and could attack. In Miami last year we did a reverse strategy to most teams. Esteban Ocon was at the back of the grid [he didn’t take part in Qualifying, as he crashed in FP3] and so he started on the hard tire when most started on mediums. As they stopped, he had free air in which to make up places. It’s not something you would normally do, as getaway from the grid is trickier with less grip, so you’re at a significant disadvantage. But starting at the back means it’s an option. Grid position is one of the final pieces of the strategy puzzle each weekend. Last year here in Miami we had the C2, C3 and C4 compounds nominated from hard to soft and we have the same allocation this time. Why have you chosen the same compounds? MI: The choice last year was quite good, even if it was our first time racing in Miami. The asphalt was not super smooth, so it generated some grip, but the layout is quite interesting, with some fast corners as well, so it’s putting some energy into the tire. The period of the year in which we go to Miami is quite hot and tire warm-up shouldn’t be an issue, so a selection in the middle of the range is the most appropriate one. The track has been resurfaced for this year. Is there any data yet or are we going in slightly blind again? MI: Prior to this weekend we have been in contact with the people doing the job. And so we already know the type of asphalt they chose and we have made some simulations to confirm that the choice we made is still the right one. AP: We didn’t have any information ahead of the race. It’s one area where we are a little bit blind. But it’s the same for everyone. Everyone will have the same range of tires. And we will use Friday and possibly even Saturday morning to build up our knowledge of those tires on that surface and build a strategy from that. It gives us one more variable to factor in, but that is what we like—another problem to solve and hopefully come up with a better solution than everyone else. Under Mario Isola’s guidance, Pirelli has been the sole tire supplier for 13 F1 seasons. C2 C3 C4 Wet Intermediate RUBBER RULES Impress your friends with these fun facts about F1 tires Pirelli’s range comprises six slick compounds (from softest to hardest: the C0, C1, C2, C3, C4 and C5), along with intermediates and full wets. Three compounds from the range are used each weekend. This weekend we have C2 as the white hard tire, C3 as the yellow medium and C4 as the red soft. This is up from five compounds last year. Last year’s C1 is now designated C0. It’s now the hardest compound, while this year’s C1 is a new compound. On a standard grand prix weekend, drivers are given 13 sets of dry-weather tires, four sets of intermediates and three sets of full wets. An extra set of softs is reserved for those who reach Q3. All drivers must use at least two different slick compounds in the race, providing the track is dry. STEVEN TEE / LAT IMAGES
