Red Bull optimistic of alternative tyre strategy at 2011 Korean Grand Prix – Formula 1 news
Red Bull Racing team is optimistic that their alternative tyre strategy devised in response to recent fears that Pirelli’s choice of soft and super-soft tyres might not be that feasible at the Korean International Circuit, will result in a good performance
at the race on Sunday, October 16, 2011 despite a not-so-good show at the qualifiers.
The qualifiers ended with Lewis Hamilton of McLaren-Mercedes stealing the top position, who will be starting Sunday’s race from the pole position. The 26-year-old Briton clocked 1 minute and 35.820 seconds which made him the fastest driver during the qualifiers
on Saturday. He was followed closely by teammate Jenson Button, however second position went to Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel.
The team’s technical director Christian Horner said that the team had come up with this new strategy well before coming to Korea and the entire team was kept in loop of this change.
“We took a different approach to qualifying so obviously the guys didn't take too much out of the first set of the super-soft tyres in Q1,” Horner speaking to BBC said. “They drove to a target lap time and we will see. The McLarens have been very quick here
this weekend and in all honesty we didn't expect to get close to them.”
The Milton-Keynes based team took a completely different approach compared to the rest of the team, and dared to use their fresh set of super soft option tyres instead of utilising their prime tyre option.
Red Bull Racing are currently topping the constructors’ championship standings with a dominant edge over all the other teams. McLaren-Mercedes are in the second position followed by Ferrari.
The team has had the most competitive car of the season, and Sebastian Vettel, who clinched this season’s championship at Suzuka marking an end to the chase for title win for the 2011 Formula 1 season.
Commenting on Pirelli’s soft and super-soft tyres for the race and the huge amount of tyre degradation that is expected, Horner said, “This race with the tyre choice that Pirelli have elected here, it's going to be very strategic, and I think it will be
crucial.”
Let’s see who wins the 2011 Korean Grand Prix at the podium and how well does the Red Bull team performs at the race on Sunday, October 16 with the revised tyre strategy.
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