Things just got complicated! Pirelli throws major curve ball for all F1 teams in Spa

Getting the Pirelli tyres in the right operative window and extracting the maximum from them is not a straightforward matter. For the Grand Prix of Belgium coming weekend, there will be an added layer of difficulty.

As with every race, Pirelli has chosen three tyre compounds to be used in the race. Usually, these three are consecutive types, for example, the C1, C2, and C3.

But for the race at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, the Italian tyre supplier has chosen something different. The drivers will have the C1, C3, and C4 available.

Pirelli skips a compound

The new compound here is the Hard, as the Medium (C3) and Soft (C4) are the same as last year. Pirelli reveals that simulations with this tyre combination indicate a two-stop strategy, which is attractive.

In addition, there is a sprint race on Saturday, which means teams have one less set of tyres than during a normal weekend.

Pirelli shakes things up in Belgium

Red Bull Racing is introducing a final update package for Max Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda in the Belgian Ardennes.

Due to the sprint race, there is only one free practice session to work on the setup; a compromise that must work with of course the three Pirelli compounds. And as mentioned, one that can handle both the C1 and the C4.

It is known how difficult Red Bull finds it to find the right operating window for the car. Pirelli's decision to skip a compound does not make it any easier for the Austrian racing team.

Mercedes themselves have also struggled trying to get the Pirelli tyres to work since the ground-effect regulations were reintroduced in the sport in 2022.

Battling rear tyre overheating, a foe the German's are yet to put to rest, Mercedes have been unable to extract the full potential from their car, which proved to be a formidale machine when the conditions don't trigger their Achilles heel.