Following the 12th and final day of winter testing for the 2014 F1 season, Pirelli announced the tyre allocations for the first four races.
The nominations were selected to reflect the characteristics of each circuit and took into account all the data obtained by the Italian firm over the three pre-season tests.
Pirelli's 2014 tyre range was put through its paces at the final four-day event as many teams switched focus to performance running, including race simulations and short qualifying stints.
The results of the test revealed that performance levels are very similar to last year's range but with less degradation. Teams suffered very little graining and blistering in Bahrain and there was also a reduction in the tread wear levels too.
The performance gaps between the range have widened this year, which could help to formulate a range of different strategies. The white-banded medium and the yellow-marked soft compounds will be used at the first race of the season in Australia, as well as the third and fourth rounds in Bahrain and China.
The medium compound will then switch roles and become the option tyre at the second race in Malaysia. It will be paired with the orange-banded hard tyre due to the higher temperatures and more abrasive track surface.
"The information gained over all three pre-season tests has helped us to come up with the tyre choices for the start of the season, having run with the new 2014 tyres in all conditions now: ranging from rain in Jerez to ambient temperatures exceeding 25 degrees centigrade in Bahrain," said motorsport director Paul Hembery.
"The conclusion we can draw so far is that the 2014 tyres are more consistent and wear less than their predecessors, without compromising performance. We’re also meeting another of our objectives with one more step towards the reduction of ‘marbles’ on the track.
"The medium and soft compounds are well matched to the expected race conditions in Australia, Bahrain and China, providing what we expect to be the right balance between performance and strategy with two to three pit stops per car. The more abrasive and hotter conditions of Malaysia have led us to nominate the hard and medium compounds there, as we did last year."
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| © Pirelli Media |
Pirelli's 2014 tyre range was put through its paces at the final four-day event as many teams switched focus to performance running, including race simulations and short qualifying stints.
The results of the test revealed that performance levels are very similar to last year's range but with less degradation. Teams suffered very little graining and blistering in Bahrain and there was also a reduction in the tread wear levels too.
The performance gaps between the range have widened this year, which could help to formulate a range of different strategies. The white-banded medium and the yellow-marked soft compounds will be used at the first race of the season in Australia, as well as the third and fourth rounds in Bahrain and China.
The medium compound will then switch roles and become the option tyre at the second race in Malaysia. It will be paired with the orange-banded hard tyre due to the higher temperatures and more abrasive track surface.
"The information gained over all three pre-season tests has helped us to come up with the tyre choices for the start of the season, having run with the new 2014 tyres in all conditions now: ranging from rain in Jerez to ambient temperatures exceeding 25 degrees centigrade in Bahrain," said motorsport director Paul Hembery.
"The conclusion we can draw so far is that the 2014 tyres are more consistent and wear less than their predecessors, without compromising performance. We’re also meeting another of our objectives with one more step towards the reduction of ‘marbles’ on the track.
"The medium and soft compounds are well matched to the expected race conditions in Australia, Bahrain and China, providing what we expect to be the right balance between performance and strategy with two to three pit stops per car. The more abrasive and hotter conditions of Malaysia have led us to nominate the hard and medium compounds there, as we did last year."
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