F1 Explains

Why tyres matter so much in F1 - with Pirelli + Jolyon Palmer

Aug 24, 2023

Former F1 racer Jolyon Palmer and Mario Isola, Head of Motorsport for Pirelli, discuss the importance of F1 tires, including compounds, wear, and selection process. They explore the differences between F1 and road tires, sustainability efforts, and the surprising performance of intermediate tires in the 2020 Turkish Grand Prix.

52:17

Creator website

Episode guests

Mario Isola

Jolyon Palmer

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

The allocation of tires for each race weekend is random and mixing up tires or using wrong combinations can lead to penalties for drivers.

Teams use tire models and simulations to choose the most suitable tires for maximum performance, considering factors like consistency and speed.

Adherence to tire rules is crucial for teams, including using the correct tires for each driver and avoiding wrong combinations to avoid penalties.

Deep dives

Tire Allocation and Usage

Each driver receives 20 sets of tires for a race weekend, randomly allocated by Pirelli. Mixing up tires for different drivers or using wrong combinations leads to penalties.

Introduction

2min

Introduction and Discussion on F1 Tires

2min

The Importance of Tire Performance in Formula 1 Racing

15min

Importance of Tires and Types of Pirelli Tires

2min

Exploring the Differences Between Formula One Tires and Road Tires

15min

Tire Compound Decisions in Formula One

14min

The Surprising Performance of Intermediate Tires

2min

Enthusiasm for Intermediate Tires and Appreciation for Guests

3min

They're round, they're black, they keep you on the track. Tyres are one of the most important parts of a Formula 1 car, but getting the best performance from them requires tireless work from drivers, teams and engineers.

Three tyre experts join Katie and Christian to explain all you need to know about F1 tyres:

Former F1 racer Jolyon Palmer explains why tyres are so important to drivers
Mario Isola, Head of Motorsport for official F1 tyre supplier Pirelli, tells us why different tyre compounds are chosen for each race weekend and why F1 tyres wear out
McLaren's Director of Race Engineering, Hiroshi Imai, explains how F1 teams choose which tyres to use and the tyre rules they must not break

You ask, F1 Explains! Send your F1 question - as an email or a voice note - to why@F1.com

F1 Explains tackles a different F1 topic every week. Check out our previous episodes using the links below:

The 2024 F1 calendar - why it helps make F1 more sustainable
Wind Tunnels - the top secret tools where cars are created
Race engineers - the voices on F1 Team Radio
Pit stops - two seconds of total teamwork
Simulators with Aston Martin's Stoffel Vandoorne
Racing in the rain with Mika Hakkinen + Haas race engineer Mark Slade
Street circuits with Mika Hakkinen + Bernie Collins
F1 driver fitness with Alexander Rossi + Sebastian Vettel's former trainer
F1 in the USA - why the US has 3 races in 2023
F1 Sprint weekends with Haas driver Kevin Magnussen

For in-depth interviews with F1's biggest names, listen to F1 Beyond The Grid. For race previews and reviews, head over to F1 Nation.

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F1 Explains

Why tyres matter so much in F1 - with Pirelli + Jolyon Palmer

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Tire Allocation and Usage

Tire Preparations and Fitting

Choosing and Using Tires

Monitoring and Scrutiny

Tire Rules and Penalties

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts