Pirelli predicts three to four stops in Sepang race – Formula 1 update
Formula 1’s Italian tyre supplier brand, Pirelli, has recently updated the media about their prediction of a possible four pit stops this weekend at the Malaysian GP. They mentioned that the number of stops may increase into the next race due to the higher
temperature and more dramatic degradation of tyres than was seen in Australia.
After the winter testing, all team members of Formula 1 predicted four or five pit stops over the 2011 season. This did not come true in the Melbourne race, and Sauber driver Sergio Perez surprisingly finished his distance with just a single tyre change
during his debut race.
The motorsport director, Paul Hembery said, "We never believe in standing still at Pirelli, which is why the teams will have two extra sets of slick tyres available to them during Friday's free practice sessions for evaluation purposes.”
He went on to say, “With testing not allowed during the season, this gives us a valuable opportunity to gather more data and feedback, while it also gives the teams an interesting taste of what could be coming in the future."
On the other hand Pirelli have started working on the silver marking tyres because these were blurred a bit with the original black colour of Pirelli rubber during the Australia race.
Before the start of the Melbourne event Pirelli revealed the final markings of different types of tyres for this season. Pirelli mentioned that each Pirelli tyre will carry its own affixed colouring on the side-wall.
The six colours that have been marked for the different types of Pirelli are as follows:
Wet compound (orange)
Intermediate compound (light blue)
Supersoft compound (red)
Soft compound (yellow)
Medium compound (white)
Hard compound (silver)
The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) officials have already announced before the season-opener that the hard and soft compounds of the Pirelli tyres will be used in the Australia, Malaysia and China races.
Two days ago Pirelli test driver, Pedro de la Rosa, was replaced with the 2010 Virgin’s race driver Lucas Di Grassi because Rosa showed his interest towards the McLaren team and then confirmed as a third driver for this season.
The four predicted pit stops will make the Sepang race very exciting for the Malaysian crowd.
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