High-Degradation Track Challenges Teams’ Tire Strategies in Japanese Grand Prix

Teams are facing a challenging task in strategizing for the Japanese Grand Prix due to the unpredictable tire choices available. Pirelli’s Mario Isola describes the situation as a “headache” for strategists with Suzuka high-degradation track making a one-stop strategy unlikely.

The cooler temperatures allow the soft tire to be a viable option, posing a dilemma for teams. The most logical strategy seems to be medium/hard/hard, but some teams like Red Bull and Ferrari have limited hard tires available forcing them to consider alternatives.

Isola suggests that soft/medium/medium or soft/hard/medium could be feasible options with the possibility of teams abandoning the hard tire altogether. McLaren with Lando Norris starting third on the grid could benefit from their tire allocation strategy. McLaren team principal, Andrea Stella remains optimistic about their chances for a podium finish despite concerns about tire degradation.