F1 Tire Strategy Explained
How teams balance speed, durability, and timing to gain crucial seconds over their rivals.
The Tire Compounds
Pirelli, F1's official tire supplier, brings three dry-weather compounds to each race, labeled as Soft, Medium, and Hard. The actual rubber compounds vary depending on the circuit characteristics.
Soft (Red sidewall)
The fastest compound with the most grip, but degrades quickly. Typically lasts 15-25 laps depending on the circuit. Ideal for qualifying and short stints.
Medium (Yellow sidewall)
The balanced choice between performance and durability. Usually lasts 25-40 laps. Often the go-to tire for the majority of a race stint.
Hard (White sidewall)
The most durable compound, but offers less grip. Can last 40+ laps in good conditions. Used for long stints or when tire preservation is critical.
Wet Weather Tires
Intermediate (Green)
For damp conditions or a drying track. Can disperse up to 30 liters of water per second at full speed.
Full Wet (Blue)
For heavy rain. Can disperse up to 85 liters per second. Only used in serious wet conditions.
Understanding Tire Degradation
As tires wear, they lose grip and lap times increase. The rate of degradation depends on:
- Track surface: Abrasive surfaces like Bahrain wear tires faster
- Temperature: High temperatures accelerate degradation
- Driving style: Aggressive driving wears tires more quickly
- Car setup: High downforce can increase tire stress
- Fuel load: Heavier cars (more fuel) stress tires more
The "Cliff"
Tires can suddenly lose significant performance when they pass a certain wear threshold - this is called "falling off the cliff." Teams try to pit before this happens, as lap times can drop by several seconds very quickly.
Mandatory Tire Rules
- Drivers must use at least two different dry tire compounds during a dry race
- This rule doesn't apply if the race is declared wet
- Each driver receives a limited allocation of tires per weekend (typically 13 sets)
- Teams must return certain sets after practice sessions
Common Tire Strategies
Soft → Medium (One-stop)
Start aggressive on softs for track position, then manage the race on mediums. Popular at circuits where overtaking is difficult.
Medium → Hard (One-stop)
Conservative approach for maximum tire life. Works well at high-degradation circuits where tire management is key.
Soft → Medium → Soft (Two-stop)
Aggressive strategy for faster overall pace. Sacrifices track position time in the pits for faster lap times on fresh rubber.
Tire Temperature
F1 tires operate in a specific temperature window (typically 85°C - 110°C for the surface). Outside this range, grip drops significantly.
- Tire blankets: Pre-heat tires before they're fitted (currently being phased out)
- Out-lap: Drivers weave and brake hard to generate heat in cold tires
- Graining: Occurs when the surface overheats relative to the core, causing temporary grip loss
- Blistering: When the core overheats, causing bubbles and permanent damage