Jordan's Track Talk

Tag: Tyres

  • Hankook becomes Tyre Supplier to Formula E

    Hankook will be the new and exclusive Technical Partner and Tyre Supplier of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

    At an event in the Swarovski Crystal World in Austria, Hankook officially presented the newly developed Hankook iON race tyres to guests and representatives of Formula E.

    The new tyres has been developed in close cooperation with the racing series and is particularly aimed at meeting the sustainability needs of Formula E and the future of e-mobility. Nearly 30% of the new tyre, which is specially tailored to the third generation of Formula E race cars, is made of sustainable materials.

    The Formula E teams currently have access to a tyre variant that can be used in both dry and wet conditions, in order to further save resources.

    Furthermore, the long durability of the tyre is another pioneering step. After the respective race weekends, Hankook completely recycles every set of tyres ensuring the championship is as sustainable as possible.

    We are thrilled to welcome Hankook to the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. We are proud to partner with a global player recognised as a top tyre manufacturer that lives and breathes motorsport as a fundamental aspect of its corporate philosophy. Hankook’s vast experience working with race teams at circuits around the world, its pioneering innovation and commitment to sustainability make it a perfect match for the championship and our new Gen3 car.

    Formula E CEO, Jamie Reigle.

  • Tyres for Abu Dhabi

    Well for the final time for the 2021 season we take a look at which tyres have been picked!

    Our selection is: C3 (Hard), C4 (Medium) and C5 (Soft), even though the track has been modified quite a bit this year, we have the same compound as we did in 2020.

    The changes to the track were brought in to provide more overtaking opportunities, this will then increase speeds and loads through some corners.

    The track itself-

    We will now take a look at the said changes, the first being the chicane that formed Turn 5 and 6 will be bypassed with a straight. The following hairpin has been brought forward slightly and widened, which increases the speed carried into it.

    A long and slightly banked turn has now been created to replace the technical complex of corners which were previously Turns 11 to 14. Towards the end of the lap, the four tight corners that route the track around the Yas Marina hotel Turns 17 to 20 have all opened up in which makes it faster.

    The changes above have made the circuit shorter by 273 metres, which the race distance has been increased from 55 to 58 laps, and lap times are estimated to fall by 14 seconds.

    Last years winning strategy with the same tyre nomination, was medium to hard one stopper, the same used for the top three finishers.

    We also have Formula 2 with us this weekend, for the final round of the 2021 Championship, this will be our first time back here since 2019, and its the first time the 18-inch tyres will be used. The tyre nomination will be the same as it was in Jeddah which was the Medium and the Supersoft.

  • Tyres for Mexico

    We are back for another race week and its that time again to look at the tyre allocation for Mexico.

    The tyres in which have been chosen are: C2 (Hard), C4 (Medium) and C4 (Soft). This is the same selection when we last raced here in 2019 but a step harder than in 2018 due to the soft tyre being to aggressive for the circuit.

    It is also the same range which we had back in COTA two weeks ago, but with the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez it is a very different track. For one it is a lot smoother than two weeks ago, it also has a fast opening sector with a long start-finish straight playing a big part in it.

    The circuit itself-

    At roughly 2285 metres, the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez sits at the highest altitude of any track on the calendar (more than 1000 metres), this then affects the air as its very thin and with the car running high levels of downforce to generate aerodynamic grip through the corner, but it is actually extremely minimised which can then lead to some sliding.

    The circuit is one of the most historic circuits in Formula 1 which roots all the way back to the 1950’s. However it has since then been extremely updated before it returned to the calendar in 2015.

    The track hasn’t had a lot of running over the past few years, so the drivers should expect a slipper surface at first. The weather is unpredictable at this time of year in so if it does rain all the rubber will be worn away… At the time of this post the weather is clear skies so hopefully it stays that way for this weekend.

    Back in 2019, the top three finishers all went with a one-stop medium to hard which saw long stints on the hard. However Charles Leclerc done a two-stop that featured two medium stints and he managed to finish fourth, we could potentially see a mix of different strategies on Sunday.

  • Tyres for Sochi

    Its race week once again, after being off for a week we are returning to Sochi, Russia this weekend for Round 15.

    Pirelli have chosen their tyres and they are the softest of the compounds, C3 (Hard), C4 (Medium), C5 (Soft), this is the first time these have been picked since Austria, it is also the same nomination which was made last season.

    This circuit, is generally all about traction and breaking, the corners are mostly slow to medium speed but the most demanding corner is turn 3, which is a multi-apex left hander.

    Sochi, isn’t used much for the rest of the season so its often seen to be slippery towards the start of the weekend, this can then sometimes cause tyres to slide rather than grip especially during the two free practice sessions on the Friday.

    Russia is normally a one-stop race, last year the top two finishers used a medium to hard strategy but there was a variation down the rest of the grid.

    This weekend, we just don’t have Formula One, we are also joint by Formula Two for round six and by Formula Three for their last round of the season and its the first time they will be in Russia since 2019.

    F2 have been nominated, the Mediums and the Purples (Ultra-soft) which was the same as last year. F3 have been nominated the Hard tyre for their final 3 races of the 2021 season.

  • Tyres for Zandvoort

    We are back racing this weekend and we are at Zandvoort and Pirelli have announced their tyres for this weekend.

    We’ve got the hardest of the compounds which is the fourth time they’ve been chosen this season. C1 (Hard), C2 (Medium) and C3 (Soft). With no previous relevant data the hardest tyres are the most suitable choice.

    The track looks quite different than when it did at its last Grand Prix in 1985. In particular, turns 3 and 14 they are both now banked at 19 degrees. As well turn 14 is taken flat-out which generates forces in excess of 4g, while there are two corners which have heavy breaking of around 5g: the entries into Turn 1 and 11.

    As expected from an old circuit, Zandvoort has a distinctly old-school feel to it, with fast and narrows turns with a number of different elevation changes. Zandvoort is located in an area of sand dunes near the beach, with the wind sometimes blowing sand onto the track which can affect grip; which is normally an issue in places like Bahrain. So we could possibly expect some drivers being caught out by the lick of grip.

    We have Formula Three with us again this weekend, and they will also be using the hard tyre. Zandvoort has big demands and banked corners which will take a lot of energy out of the tyres.

  • Tyres for Spa

    Finally, we are back this weekend racing! Pirelli have announced the tyre choices for this weekend.

    We have the compounds in the middle of the range. C2 (Hard), C3 (Medium), C4 (Soft). This is the same as last years, which was a step softer than the tyres used in 2019.

    Last years race was won with a one-stop medium to hard strategy, all three podium finishers used this. They switched the tyres during a long Safety Car period which influenced this strategy. So this years strategy may be very different to last years depending on what happens at the beginning of the race.

    Spa is one of the most exciting tracks on the calendar and it contains a wide range of demands over the lap. As Spa is located in the foothills of the Ardennes- theres always a high chance of rain making an appearance over the weekend.

    This weekend we also have Formula Three joining F1, they are going into their fifth round of their season. The medium tyre will be used this weekend for them. This compound offers the most out of the three compounds, especially around the demanding and challenging track.

  • Tyres for Hungary

    We are back racing this weekend and the tyres for Hungary have been announced.

    The middle of the range have been chosen and they are C2 (Hard), C3 (Medium) and C4 (Soft). This is the same as what Hungary had last year. The circuit doesn’t place any heavy demands on the tyres, meaning these compounds are well suited to the track, especially if the weather is warm.

    Hungary is a very different track compared to the last round at Silverstone, overtaking is tricky on the track so planning race strategy and track position is key. Last years strategy was the wet and intermediate tyres were run at the start of the race because of the rain. But in 2019 (the same compound as 2021) both one and two stop strategies with Hamilton using a two stopper who won the race.

    We have 70 laps of this track, the circuit length being 4.381 km and with only one DRS zone thinks can change very quickly…

    We also have Formula 3 at Hungary this weekend too, they use the one tyre compound and that is the medium compound.

  • Tyres for Silverstone

    Pirelli have announced what tyres will be available this weekend at Silverstone which is holding the first ever F1 sprint.

    The hardest of the compounds will be used C1 (Hard), C2 (Medium) and C3 (Soft). They will also be supply 12 sets of slicks rather than 13 with two sets of C1, four sets of C2’s and six sets of C3s. The compounds are the same as last year apart from the new rear tyres from when Hamilton suffered a puncture on the final lap.

    With qualifying now taking place on Friday evening and a change to normal practice, all drivers must use the soft tyre for the session, which normally its a free choice. Now onto the Sprint on Saturday, the teams will have a free choice of starting tyres, with also a free choice for the race on Sunday too.

    The test tyres they used in Austria, will now be used from British GP till the end of the season, they have reconstructed the rear tyre making them more robust.

    We also have Formula Two back this weekend for Round Four, they have been allocated the hard and medium tyres, which is being used for the first time in 2021 for them.

  • Tyres for Austria

    This week we have got a different set of tyres for the Red Bull Ring, Pirelli done similar to this at last years double header at Silverstone.

    Pirelli have designated the softest compound and they are C3 (Hard), C4 ( Medium) and C5 (Soft).

    The circuit isn’t very demanding on tyre wear, which then makes it possible for the softest tyres in the range to be used. The softest compound being used this weekend could push the teams for a two-stop strategy on Sunday, unlike last week where it was just a one-stop.

    Pirelli are also testing a new rear construction of tyre in free practice, Pirelli say the decision has been taken “in addition to the recently issued Technical Directive and the latest starting parameters” they prescribed, following the tyre blowouts for Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll in Baku.

    It is to be believed that this latest move by Pirelli is to build an extra margin on tyres used by the whole of the F1 grid.

    Each driver will have two sets of the new tyres available for use in either of the practice sessions on Friday, if the test is successful then the new rear specification will be introduced from the next race, Silverstone onwards.

  • Tyres for Styrian GP

    We are back racing this weekend and its our second race out of our triple header, and we are returning to the Red Bull Ring.

    Pirelli have announced their tyres for this weekend, they will be using the same as what they used a week earlier in France and they are: C2 (Hard), C3 (Medium) and C4 (Soft) compounds, which are the tyres in the middle of Pirelli’s range.

    It will be interesting to see what strategy the teams use for tyres, the winning strategy last year was softs to hards.

    After having two tyre blowouts in Azerbaijan, Pirelli have upped the minimum pressure on which teams could run their tyres in France by 2psi, in order to eliminate similar problems arising.

    However, Pirelli have now lowered their minimum running pressure in Austria compared to the races in 2020 by 3psi. This will increase the contact surface of the tyre on the track, which should lead to a higher grip levels.

  • Tyres for Azerbaijan

    This weekend we will be back in Azerbaijan not just with Formula One but Formula Two also and Pirelli have announced which tyre compounds they are bringing to the race weekend.

    Unlike 2019, this years Azerbaijan Grand Prix will see the teams use the softest tyres in Pirelli’s F1 range C3 (hard) tyre, C2 (medium) tyre and C5 (soft) tyres. This is one step softer than the last Azerbaijan race weekend.

    For the third round of the season for Formula Two, they will be using 18-inch tyres, yellow striped medium and purple striped super soft tyres, making this the first time the mediums have been used in this season.

    With the Formula One race being 51 laps and Formula Two’s sprint race being 21 laps and the feature race 29 laps, it will definitely be an interesting and crazy race as always in Baku! All eyes onto the weekend🤩

    This weekend we are expected sunshine so no rain at the moment, however things can always change👀 look below to see more information on Pirelli and Azerbaijan.