George Russell of the Mercedes AMG F1 W14 is leading Max Verstappen of the Red Bull Racing RB19 at the beginning of the race.
On April 2, 2023, the Formula 1 World Championship, Round 3, Australian Grand Prix is taking place at Albert Park in Melbourne, Australia.
Pirelli has announced that it will bring its softest tire compounds for this weekend’s Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, which includes the rarely used C5 compound.
This means that the C5 tire will be making its competitive debut for the year 2024 at Albert Park.
Although the construction of the C5 tire has remained the same since 2023, teams only utilized the softest compound in Pirelli’s range for a total distance of 140km during the three days of pre-season testing in Bahrain.
During the testing in Bahrain, Lewis Hamilton was the only driver to complete a full long run on the C5 tire, while Williams primarily used the compound for installation laps.
In addition to the C5 tire, Pirelli will also provide the C4 and C3 constructions, creating a softer selection compared to last year’s event where the C2, C3, and C4 tires were used.
Pirelli last brought the softest compound to Melbourne in 2022, alongside the C2 and C3, omitting the C4 tire.
The Italian tire manufacturer explained that their decision to opt for a softer selection was based on the analysis of last year’s race, which heavily relied on the C2 compound.
In 2023, 10 drivers used the C2 tire for 47 out of the 58 laps, while three drivers completed over 50 laps on the compound. The race also featured three safety cars, three red flags, two standing starts, and one rolling start.
Historically, the Albert Park circuit has favored a one-stop strategy, but Pirelli hopes that the introduction of a softer tire nomination will encourage a wider range of strategies.