Little variety in selections, but Merc drivers do opt for different split
Tuesday 8 March 2016 17:33, UK
Pirelli have revealed the F1 drivers' first selections under the new-for-2016 tyre rules - but there will be little variety among the leading cars in Melbourne.
In a bid to spice up race strategies from next week's season-opening Australian GP, Pirelli are bringing three tyre types to every race weekend and allowing teams to select 10 of the 13 compounds for each of their cars.
The selections for Melbourne have now been published but, despite expectations that the early races in particular would produce divergent tactics, most teams have opted for a similar split of tyres from the medium, soft and supersoft compounds on offer at Albert Park.
However, in one of only three differences between team-mates, Mercedes pair Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg have opted for slightly different selections.
Although they will each have six sets of the supersofts, Rosberg will have two medium and five softs whereas Hamilton enters the weekend with just one medium and six soft sets.
Ferrari drivers Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen have selected the same split as Rosberg.
The drivers at six teams - Williams, Red Bull, Renault, Toro Rosso, McLaren and newcomers Haas - will each have seven sets of Pirelli's quickest tyre, the supersoft, while Manor pair Pascal Wehrlein and Rio Haryanto will just have five apiece.
The first race of the 2016 F1 season, the Australian GP, is exclusively live on Sky Sports F1. The race in Melbourne starts at 5am on Sunday March 20.
