TYRE PREVIEW: Pirelli opts for a jump in the compound selection in Mexico

Just a week after the United States Grand Prix, the F1 field is set to race again this weekend, with the Mexico City track due to host Round 20 of the 2025 F1 season.

Pirelli opted for an unusual tyre choice for last weekend's Austin race, having installed a jump in between the medium and hard compounds in the hope of spicing things up in terms of strategy.

The Milan-based tyre manufacuter has elected to carry over this approach to this weekend's Mexico City Grand Prix. While the Medium and Soft are the C4 and C5 respectively, as in 2024, the Hard will now be the C2. For the Mexico City track, this compound is an extremely conservative choice, with a considerable delta in terms of lap time compared to the other two, while also offering less grip.

Last year, the Soft only came into play in qualifying and then in the race, only in an attempt to secure the extra point for setting the fastest race lap, but now the scenario could change considerably.

Pirelli expected that the "advantage to be had from the C4 and C5 could in fact lead the teams to aim for a race run predominantly on these compounds. However, that comes with the risk of possibly having to make a second pit stop because of degradation. Anyone choosing the C2 could relatively comfortably manage a longer stint, going for a one-stop on the way to the chequered flag, although it entails a reduction in performance."

The use of the two softest compounds will certainly be carefully evaluated during the three free practice sessions, when teams will be able to run long stints with full fuel loads and check the condition of the tyres.

Historically, graining levels in Mexico are quite pronounced, since the thin air at altitude reduces the amount of aerodynamic downforce that the cars can produce.

On a track that already offers little grip due to its limited use, the tyres tend to slide, which leads to graining. It will also be interesting to see whether the greater resistance to this phenomenon offered by the current compounds will help limit it and therefore benefit those who are masters of tyre management.

As for the past experience, the history points towards a one-stop strategy that dominated last year's race as well. All drivers, except Sergio Pérez, adopted a one-stop strategy. Most started on the Medium compound, while six drivers, all of whom went on to finish outside the top eleven, preferred the Hard for the first stint. The most effective strategy, in theory and later confirmed on track, proved to be Medium-Hard.

No particular tyre management skills were required to extend the stint on the medium compound, which, in general, showed only a slight amount of graining and very limited degradation. The longest stint on the yellow-banded compound was 39 laps from McLaren driver Oscar Piastri, while on the white-banded compound it went as high as 49 laps with Valtteri Bottas.