Pirelli predicts 'interesting mix of strategies' at Spa race

Every year it's a great moment when the summer break ends. The pause in F1, that lasts three weeks is almost over, and so that means it's almost time to go racing again. And as we are used to, the first race after the summer break will be held at the legendary Belgian circuit of Spa-Francorchamps.

Challenges

Although Formula 1 fans have had to wait for another race at Spa, it's Pirelli's third race in a short period of time at the track in the Belgian Ardennes: "The Belgian Grand Prix marks our third visit to Spa in a month in very different contexts, after the Spa 24 Hours, the Ypres Rally Belgium (which had its final day in Spa) and now Formula 1," Mario Isola said.

The Belgium circuit is the longest on the racing calendar, around 7 kilometres per lap. Only Baku comes close, with a distance of 6 kilometres. So there is work for Pirelli. "The challenges of this circuit, especially in terms of weather, are well known, as are the loads on the tyres," Isola said in a Pirelli press release.

Strategy

"Last year the top three qualified on the medium tyre, while the soft offered a good step up in grip, but required more management and was therefore not considered an optimal race tyre." Isola therefore foresees a strategic tyre battle in Belgium: "The majority of drivers went from medium to hard last year, with the pit stop for most of them being dictated by the safety car on lap 11. So we could see an interesting mix of strategies this year."