Pirelli considers three-stopper due to this feature of COTA

As the teams had to sacrifice the second free practice in Austin for Pirelli's tyre test, a lot less time was left for the long runs. FP3 shed more light on the possible tyre strategies for the race, on which Pirelli draws its own conclusions.

"The best strategy for the 56-lap United States Grand Prix is likely to be a two-stopper," Pirelli said in a press release. The tyre supplier recommends using medium and hard compounds - due to the high degradation rate of soft tyres.

Pirelli assumes two-stopper

How will Formula 1 teams set up the ideal strategy? "The fastest way seems set to be one medium stint followed by two stints on the hard: although medium-hard-medium could be a good way forward too. As always, the tyres that each driver has left in their individual allocations will influence the strategy."

Pirelli is not ruling out a three-stop, however. The short pit lane at the Circuit of the Americas may lower the treshold to carrying out an extra stop, due to the relatively small amount of time lost. Moreover, there are plenty of opportunities to overtake.