According to a statement released by Pirelli, ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, graining could play a crucial role in the race.
Sunday will mark the final Grand Prix of an exciting season. The Abu Dhabi circuit, for the fifth time in its history, will be decisive for the world championship title. In fact, the Constructors’ Championship is still up for grabs, with McLaren leading the standings, 21 points ahead of Ferrari.
The Scuderia Ferrari, in order to win a title that has been missing for nearly twenty years, needs a double podium finish and hopes that at least one of the McLarens doesn’t finish in third place. With tire strategy playing a big role, all the ingredients for an exciting race are in place. Here’s why.
Pirelli has just released its usual official statement explaining that graining could play a crucial role in the Abu Dhabi race. Below is the official communication from the well-known tire supplier:
“The forces exerted on the tires are generally medium to low, given the scarcity of high-speed corners. The asphalt offers low grip and has an average level of roughness for the season. Temperatures will play a key role: it’s important to note that two of the three practice sessions take place in natural light, FP2 and the race during sunset, while qualifying is entirely in the evening.
Therefore, the conditions of the asphalt can change rapidly as the temperatures drop, and the track evolution due to rubbering in will be very fast, especially in the first days, also thanks to the three support series – F4 UAE, F1 Academy, and F2 – scheduled for the weekend. On a track where graining can have a significant impact and, as mentioned earlier, offers overtaking opportunities due to changes made three years ago, a two-stop strategy is certainly the preferred option, as was seen last year. Additionally, the undercut proves to be very effective, while a single-stop strategy requires a very high level of tire management to minimize performance degradation.”
