Selection to be made from three compounds decided by Pirelli
Thursday 3 December 2015 12:21, UK
Changes to F1's tyre regulations to encourage differing race strategies in 2016 have been approved by the FIA.
Pirelli will now nominate three dry compounds rather than two for race weekends. The Italian firm will allocate two sets of tyres for the race (only one of which must be used) and one set of the softest nominated tyre compound that can only be used in Q3.
Each driver will then be able to choose 10 further sets from the three compounds to take their weekend allocation to 13.
Originally, Force India had put forward a proposal that would allow them to pick a compound of their choice in 2016.
The choices by each driver will be kept secret until two weeks before each grand prix. If a team misses the deadline to submit their choices, which be set by Pirelli, then the FIA will nominate their tyres.
The rule requiring drivers to use at least two different compounds of dry tyres in a race, unless intermediates or wets have been used, remains in place.
In 2016 Pirelli's existing supersoft (red), soft (yellow), medium (white) and hard (orange) compounds will be joined by a fifth ultrasoft (purple) compound. This will become the softest tyre in the range.
FIA tyre statement in full
Changes have been approved by the World Motor Sport Council in regard to the way that tyres are used by teams in order to encourage differing race strategies in 2016. These include:
- The tyre supplier will now provide three dry-weather compounds instead of two.
- Of the 13 sets of dry tyres available to each driver, the tyre supplier will choose two for the race (only one of which must be used in the race), and one set (the softest available) that may only be used in Q3. Each driver may then choose their remaining 10 sets from the three available compounds.
- Unless intermediate or wet-weather tyres have been used, a driver must use at least two different specifications of dry-weather tyres - at least one of these must be the one chosen by the tyre supplier.
