Formula One’s teams will use the same three compounds selected for China at Bahrain’s Sakhir circuit: the P Zero Red supersoft, P Zero Yellow soft, and P Zero White medium. Knowing the track as a favoured year-round test venue for various series, Pirelli states that it will above all test traction, especially since it is the first of three scheduled night races for the 2017 season.
Last week’s Monaco Grand Prix delivered Nico Rosberg his third victory in a row at the track, and prior to the race the Circuit de Monaco was also host to 18-inch tyre demonstrations for two F1 feeder championships. Pirelli showed off its larger diameter race-ready GP2 rubber while Renault Sport Technologies fielded a Formula Renault 3.5 car fitted with 18-inch Michelin tyres. These demonstrations are significant given both tyre makers’ views on the direction F1 tyre evolution should take, a topic of particular interest now that tenders are open for F1 tyre supply between 2017 and 2019.
Jolyon Palmer, the reigning GP2 Series champion, has joined Lotus F1 Team as third driver for the 2015 season.
