STRATEGY GUIDE: The 13 seconds that separate the one- and two-stop strategy
Pirelli believes a one-stop strategy will be the quickest way to complete Sunday's British Grand Prix after analysing tyre performance during the Sprint and practice running at Silverstone.
Despite pre-weekend expectations that the demanding circuit could encourage multiple pit stops, the Italian tyre supplier found degradation to be lower than anticipated. According to Pirelli's simulations, a one-stop strategy is approximately 13 seconds faster than a two-stop race.
Silverstone remains one of the toughest circuits on tyres. The 18-corner layout, featuring 10 right-handers and eight left-handers, subjects the tyres to sustained high-speed lateral loads, particularly through the iconic Maggotts-Becketts-Chapel sequence.
Combined with the long straights, the circuit produces forces exceeding 5g, prompting nine-time British Grand Prix winner Lewis Hamilton to compare driving at Silverstone to flying a fighter jet.
For this weekend, Pirelli selected the hardest compounds in its range – the C1 Hard, C2 Medium and C3 Soft – to cope with the circuit's high-energy demands. While the asphalt itself is relatively smooth and non-abrasive, the fast corners place heavy stress on the tyres, especially the left-front due to the predominance of right-hand turns.
What to expect for today's Silverstone race?Pirelli Motorsport Director Dario Marrafuschi explained that all three compounds remain viable options, but the Medium tyre has emerged as the preferred race tyre after its strong showing in the Sprint.
"All the compounds available this weekend have proven to be valid options for shaping tomorrow's race strategies. The levels of degradation recorded today [Saturday] were, overall, lower than expected, likely also thanks to the way current cars manage energy at this circuit.
"For this reason, according to our simulations, the one-stop strategy is around 13 seconds quicker than a two-stop," claimed Marrafuschi.
The recommended strategy is to start on the C2 Medium and switch to the C1 Hard between laps 24 and 30, providing the fastest route to the chequered flag.
Pirelli has also outlined several alternatives. Teams could opt for a Medium-to-Soft strategy with a later stop between laps 29 and 35, while starting on the Hard before switching to the Medium is another possibility.
Drivers further down the grid could even gamble on beginning the race on the Soft tyre before completing the remainder of the Grand Prix on the Hard.
