Pirelli reveal compounds for opening rounds of 2019 F1 season

Pirelli have revealed the first tyre compounds that they will use under their revised system, brought in for the start of the 2019 season.

Pirelli have revealed the first tyre compounds that they will use under their revised system, brought in for the start of the 2019 season.

In a bid to simplify the F1 spectacle for fans, Pirelli have introduced a revised system where only three colours will be used on the walls of the slick tyres; white, yellow and red.

These will indicate hard, mid-range, and soft-compound tyre on all Grand Prix weekends, despite the exact grade of tyre still varying from race-to-race.

An additional system will be used to specify the compound of tyre, ranging from C1 to C5. C1 will be the hardest compound, and C5 will be the softest.

In 2018, a seven-tyre compound range was made available, including four types of ‘soft’ compound; soft, supersoft, ultrasoft and hypersoft.

Under the simplified version, three of the first four rounds have been allocated the middle three tyres; C2, C3 and C4. Bahrain will use a harder range; C1, C2 and C3.

Some gifts ? come early. Here are the #Fit4F1 compounds for the #AusGP, #BahrainGP, #ChineseGP and #AzerbaijanGP! (Quick Reminder – In 2019 there will only be 3 colours per race, but 5 different compounds available: C1 is the hardest, C5 the softest) pic.twitter.com/ijoIzO3kqb

— Pirelli Motorsport (@pirellisport) 10 December 2018

The Italian tyre manufacturers recently extended their Formula One contract after winning the tender for 2020-2023.

Pirelli had fended off rivals Hankook for the supply deal, but their position wasn’t really under threat due to the technical challenge of the 2021 rule changes.

Hankook coming in to Formula One would’ve resulted in the South Korean company needing to produce a tyre spec just for 2020, before creating a new range of tyres for 2021 onward, a costly and difficult technical challenge.

The changes in tyre rules for 2021 include a switch from 13-inch to 18-inch rims, a ban on tyre blankets, and new technical guidelines to create to-stop races and higher-degradation tyres. Most of these aspects were enough to put off Michelin from seeking a return to Formula One.

All Images: Motorsport Images

By: Luke Murphy

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