Teams can play with soft tires to qualify for sprint

 Teams can play with soft tires to qualify for sprint

Contrary to expectations, Pirelli F1 manager Mario Isola says some teams can play with soft tires in the British sprint qualifiers.

This weekend Silverstone is playing its first Formula 1 sprint qualifying match.

Drivers took part in a screening session on Friday night, everyone using only soft tires, Lewis Hamilton speeding ahead of Max Verstappen.

Plans to finish the set are set for a Saturday evening sprint filter grid, a 17-line race on the line.

But while Pirelli initially predicted that the middle wheel would be the preferred rubber, low performance in performance could have some teams gambling on soft tires.

“Because if you look back at the second race in the example we had in Silverstone last year, when the soft component we had this week was a mid-range computer, we had some drivers who could run the stairs longer than the soft sprint without high damage.

“We have for example Ocon, Leclerc, Stroll, Raikkonen and Giovinazzi. They all traveled long distances at the C3 compound. So I believe that considering that last year, we had similar temperatures, that is a good indication of what they could choose.

“To be honest, before coming here, I was pretty sure everyone was trying to get into a sprint in the stadium. But if you ask me, I'm not so sure. And maybe we can see the combination of soft and medium combination to get the sprint fit.

“If it happens, obviously, it's very exciting, because in this new way, everyone thought that getting a sprint degree has the same place for everyone. Probably not. ”