Pirelli has revealed the tyre compounds to be used at the forthcoming Monaco and Spanish Grands Prix.

In Monaco the teams will have at their disposal the three softer compounds: C3, C4 and C5, while in Barcelona, from 2 to 4 June, the C1, C2 and C3 compounds will be used.

As usual, the softest compounds in the range have been selected for Monaco. The tyres are not subjected to a lot of stress at the Monte Carlo street circuit as the lap is slower than at any other track and the asphalt is not particularly abrasive. On the contrary, the roads are opened to public traffic each evening, which means that the track does not rubber in as usual. As a result, the drivers have to rely heavily on aerodynamic grip, running the highest downforce levels seen all year.

The Circuit de Catalunya is another well-established venue, having hosted the Spanish Grand Prix since 1991 without interruption. This year the track returns to its former layout, with the removal of the final chicane and a consequent reduction in the overall lap length, which now comes down to 2.894 miles (4.657 kms).

This alteration makes the final sector a lot more flowing and less severe for the tyres in terms of traction but puts them under greater lateral stress during the final two fast corners (which are now known as Turns 14 and 15) after already coming under heavy load earlier during the lap, in places like Turns 3 and 9.

Asphalt temperature will be an important factor in terms of degradation, with track temperatures reaching 50 degrees centigrade last year despite the race being held a few weeks earlier.

As such, Pirelli has selected the C1, C2, and C3 as hard, medium, and soft. Although this is the same selection as last year on the face of it, in reality the 2023 C1 is a brand new compound that made a successful debut in Bahrain (with this year's hardest available compound being the C0).

Grand Prix	Soft	Medium	Hard
Bahrain	C3	C2	C1
Saudi Arabia	C4	C3	C2
Australia	C4	C3	C2
Azerbaijan	C5	C4	C3
Miami	C4	C3	C2
Emilia Romagna	C5	C4	C3
Monaco	C5	C4	C3
Spain	C3	C2	C1

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Chester, 26/04/2023 9:56

"I like Endre's suggestion of teams ordering any of the five compounds. Now that is strategy and risk taking combined. Simply brilliant, sir!!!"

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2. Posted by Endre, 25/04/2023 15:47

"Here is a novel concept, let the teams order what they want"

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3. Posted by Max Noble, 25/04/2023 11:26

" Produce one tyre with tread as per a road car tyre, make it last a minimum of two races (a whole 600km!), paint it rainbow as Esteemed Editor Balfe suggests, and give the the teams no choice. Then get the teams at the end of each season to help turn the shredded tyres into that bouncy floor stuff you get in kids play grounds.

Really who wants a set of logical tyres you can race on in 2023…?"

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4. Posted by Pavlo, 25/04/2023 11:19

"@Chester - totally agree, it was simpler than explaining why "same color" works so differently.
Moreover I think they produce too many different compounds. Allowing only 2-3 types same for the whole season would produce more interesting strategies without artificial "mandatory" change."

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5. Posted by Editor, 25/04/2023 11:17

"@ Chester

Don't give them ideas... there will be rainbow sidewalls next!"

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6. Posted by Chester, 25/04/2023 11:04

"Am I the only one who misses the old color scheme for tires? Pink for hyper-soft, purple for ultra-soft, red for super-soft, yellow for soft, orange for medium and white for hard."

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Pirelli reveals compounds for Monaco and Spain

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