Pirelli choose bold tyre compound for Melbourne Grand Prix

Pirelli has made an interesting choice in terms of tyre compounds available to F1 drivers at next weekend's Australian Grand Prix. Among the compounds the Italian supplier have brought to Down Under is the C5. This is the softest compound Pirelli have, one that is not normally used much, if at all.

During the test in Bahrain earlier this year, the C5 was also available to the teams. Over the three days, the ten F1 teams ran a total of 140 kilometres on this tyre. Only Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes probably know reasonably well how the tyre performs. The Briton drove a long run on the C5 in Bahrain. The Williams team used the tyre for several installation laps.

So after Bahrain, two things are clear: This is not a favourite tyre of the teams annd a compound of which little is known how it performs under current cars. Pirelli last brought its softest compound to a Grand Prix in 2022. That was also the race in Melbourne. At the time, the tyre supplier also carried the C2 and C3, rather than the C4.

Pirelli hopes for different strategies

Pirelli have come to the decision to bring the C3, C4 and C5 - the softest compounds - to Australia after an analysis of the Grand Prix a year ago. Tyre wear was very low in '23, even after three (re)starts due to a trio of red flags. Melbourne is traditionally a race where drivers make one pit stop, but with the softest compound in the range, there could still be different strategies this year.