Pirelli bringing different tyres to Turkey: "Race was dramatic and unpredictable"

Pirelli has announced which tyres they will make available for the Turkish Grand Prix. Remarkably, the choice of tyres differs from that of 2020, when there were many complaints about the lack of grip.

The resurfaced Istanbul Park circuit was extremely slippery, resulting in little grip and fairly low wear. It is expected that the asphalt is now in a better condition, partly because it was recently water blasted. Pirelli nevertheless chooses to bring softer compounds: the C2, C3 and C4 tyre.

Pirelli chief Mario Isola explains the choice. "Turkey was one of the most dramatic and unpredictable races of last season, mostly due to a very slippery track as a consequence of low grip from the new asphalt," he begins in a press release. "The slipperiness of the circuit, exacerbated by the rain, caught many people by surprise."

"That’s why this year we’ve opted for a softer tyre nomination, also with the race taking place more than a month earlier, which should result in higher temperatures. Following our tyre nomination, the track has undergone a high-pressure water cleaning process, which should lead to greater roughness and more grip, so there’s also the possibility that with softer compounds we will face higher wear levels compared to last year," concludes Isola.