F1’s Pirelli Tyre Identity Crisis
Formula 1 Management Group have asked Pirelli to simplify the names of their tyre compounds for each race weekend in 2019, so fans, who may not be familiar with Formula 1 tyre technology, may readily understand how each compound behaves. In the spirit of fun, I’ve taken it upon myself, to propose a different set of tyre distinctions, for people who’ve been fans for way too long, and have become complacent. Come with me…
As you may know, Pirelli have a rainbow of fruit flavors from which to choose (from most to least grip): Hypersoft, Ultrasoft, Supersoft, Soft, Medium and Hardly Medium or ‘Hard’. Formula 1 suggests they continue with these tyre compounds but, from race to race, rename them Hard, Medium, and Soft. Per esempio, if they use the Soft, Ultrasoft, and Hypersoft, then: Soft = Hard, Ultrasoft = Medium, and Hypersoft = Soft. Seems a good idea…for beginners.
But for us F1 nerds, who feel empty inside, due to this potential over-simplification, are we not asking the Universe why there can’t be a set of tyre distinctions that require us to study French, or possibly get a degree in sports psychology? I say we create a separate group of classifications, worthy of Mordor, and here they are.
LGDH31, MGDH22, HGDH14. I’m confident you F1 diehards can decipher its meaning, given some thought. But for those who are too lazy to think, like myself, here’s a quick overview.
L = Low, M = Medium, and H = High. You with me? G = Grip. D = Degradation. H = Heat. The numbers are predicted number of laps. Easy peasy, yes?
If Pirelli really want to give F1 lifers a challenge, they could totally screw with our minds by doing the following:
LGDMH31, MGDMH22, HGDMH14. Or even more exciting: LGMDHH24! Don’t we feel special?
I feel very special, but I’ve run out of writer’s patience, so I’ll end with this: do you have your own classification for tyre compounds, that you’re dying to reveal to the world? If so, feel free to share, by leaving a comment below, or on my Twitter: @mayorofshimtown!
Extra credit: would it help fans if Pirelli provided a hard/fast number of laps each compound should last, so commentators need only remind us we ought to be worried about Alonso, because he’s approaching Scary Lap 22 (SL22) on mediums, or that he’s miraculously X number of laps over the BL (bursting limit) on softs?
