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Thermal degradation played a pivotal role in the strategic complexity witnessed during the Bahrain Grand Prix in Formula 1, as all three of Pirelli’s tyre compounds were utilized throughout the race. The C2 medium tyre emerged as the favourite among drivers, accounting for 46% of laps completed, while the softer compounds saw slightly lower usage compared to the hard tyre. Interestingly, nearly all drivers opted for the soft tyres at the start of the race.
With varied strategies in play, the key question was how to navigate the race effectively, particularly with the introduction of a safety car. Teams had six to seven different strategies to consider, but not all of them proved equally effective. The prevalent pit stop strategy featured a progression from soft to medium, finally switching to hard, influenced by the timing of the safety car and remaining tyre availability for each team.
High degradation would typically indicate a preference for the hard tyre, but the lower-than-expected physical degradation allowed teams to extend the use of softer tyres. While performance diminished towards the end of their lifespan, there was minimal evidence of graining or blistering—factors that could prompt urgent pit stops.
Opening Strategy: Soft-Medium – The Undercut Dilemma
Many drivers began the race with a soft-medium strategy, following positive performance seen in practice sessions. Pirelli’s adjustments to the C3 compound made it softer yet maintained its degradation levels, leading to its widespread use in race strategy.
The optimal timing for the undercut seemed to be between laps 8-10, providing valuable positional advantages during the pit cycles. Esteban Ocon exemplified this strategy, pitting from 12th on lap eight and emerging sixth after the stops cycled through, reaping the benefits of his timing. In contrast, early pitting efforts by Nico Hulkenberg and Isack Hadjar did not yield similar returns, with Hadjar finding himself at a disadvantage on used tyres soon after his stop.
Subsequent pit stops on laps 11 and 12 were less effective, as evidenced by Yuki Tsunoda’s timing, which resulted in a significant time loss compared to drivers who had pitted earlier. As the soft tyre wore, the performance differential between used softs and new mediums became more pronounced. Despite a marginally longer pit stop, Max Verstappen was unable to hold off Andrea Kimi Antonelli once the latter switched to fresh mediums.
Conversely, some drivers opted to extend their soft stints. Oliver Bearman and Alex Albon, who transitioned to hard tyres late in their stints, faced varying levels of competitiveness compared to those on mediums. Bearman’s pace on hard tyres was commendable, though Ocon’s transition to mediums showcased a substantial performance gap, as he started outperforming him by mid-race.
While starting on mediums offered potential benefits, it required a strong commitment to the strategy. Ferrari, often criticized for their strategic decisions, effectively executed this plan with both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. Leclerc maintained competitive lap times on mediums and was quick to resume strong performance after his stop on lap 17, while Hamilton strategically made gains to secure a place in the top five.
Utilizing Mediums: The Winning Approach
Both McLaren drivers adopted a strategy that involved running double stints on medium tyres, with Oscar Piastri emphasizing their effectiveness during the final stretch of the race. Nico Hulkenberg also utilized this approach, albeit from a lower points position, before being disqualified due to a technical infringement.
Piastri and Lando Norris showcased contrasting approaches during their opening strategies, with Norris facing a penalty that limited his undercut potential. While Piastri started slower, he managed to maintain an effective pace during the final stint compared to George Russell, who struggled with degradation on soft tyres.
The hard tyres proved to be less consistent during the final phase of the race, as both Ferrari drivers experienced significant drop-off in performance. Ocon and Pierre Gasly also faced challenges in maintaining pace against rivals on medium tyres, ultimately leading to Gasly’s resilient defense against Verstappen until the closing laps.
In summary, while the soft-medium-medium strategy seemed to provide the fastest route, the possibility of experimentation with alternative strategies, such as front-loading medium stints and ending with softs, remains an intriguing aspect that’s left unanswered.
Source
www.autosport.com