This weekend, Formula 1 returns to Europe to celebrate the sixth race of the 2022 season, the Spanish Grand Prix, which will take place at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya .
The Catalan track already hosted the first of the two F1 pre-season tests in February, so the teams will start the weekend with some benchmarks.
Facing this event, already known by all, Pirelli has decided to carry the following compounds:
- C1 (the hardest, white in color)
- C2 (middle, yellow)
- C3 (the soft one, red in color)
Therefore, the tire supplier has opted for the most conservative option, as these are the three hardest compounds in the 2022 range. The choice has taken into account the nature of the track and its asphalt.
Pirelli tires for the 2022 Spanish GP of F1
- For this new edition of the Spanish GP at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Pirelli, which is the main sponsor of the event, has opted for the hardest compounds: C1 as the hard one, C2 as the medium and C3 as the soft. This choice is the same as last year, despite the fact that the tires are completely new, since the challenges that the track poses to the wheels are well known from previous tests. Among these challenges is the long Turn 3 , but also Turn 9 , where a lot of energy is poured into the tyres.
- The teams went to Barcelona in February, just three months ago, to carry out the first pre-season tests. However, there are three differences to note. Firstly, the teams focused on the softer compounds during testing. Second, the weather conditions were cooler than expected this weekend. And finally, the versions of the cars were not yet final. Since then the single-seaters have improved quite a bit and it will be interesting to see how far they have managed to jump forward.
- The Barcelona circuit is heavily used, so there won’t be much of a surface development over the weekend, partly also thanks to the tight schedule of support races. However, the expected dry and warm temperatures add a new challenge for the tires at a track that is unchanged from last year, when a slight modification was made to Turn 10 , slightly lengthening the circuit.
- Last season’s winning strategy was two stops , allowing a victory for Lewis Hamilton after starting from pole and using medium and soft tyres. The soft-medium-soft strategy was also used by the rest of the drivers who finished in the top eight.
Mario Isola , responsible for Pirelli in F1, explained the reason for the choice: “It is difficult to say much more about Barcelona that has not already been said, bearing in mind that it is probably the circuit on the calendar that is best known by all drivers. and that it has a layout that makes it the perfect testing ground”.
“It has a bit of everything, the final sector is very technical and especially important when it comes to tire management.”
“So the teams will have a good opportunity to assess the progress they have made with their cars since the start of the season, although the weather conditions will be much warmer and there will probably be much more use of the hard compound than seen in the previous seasons. practice sessions, which could be the key option for the race,” explained Isola.
“In the past, Barcelona has traditionally been a two-stop race, so it will be interesting to see if this year’s new generation of tires encourages anyone to go to one stop.”
Minimum dry tire pressures at the 2022 F1 Spanish GP
- Front: 22.5psi
- Rear: 19.0psi
Maximum tire camber at the 2022 F1 Spanish GP
- Front: -3.25°
- Rear: -1.75°
