Antonino Mazzola on the specifics of tire performance in Vegas

      Before the start of the Las Vegas weekend, Ferrari's tyre engineer Antonino Mazzola spoke about the characteristics of the desert circuit…

      Antonino Mazzola: "Sessions on the city circuit, the Las Vegas Strip Circuit, take place in the evening, when the low desert temperature combined with the not very abrasive track surface become the main problems for optimal tyre performance.

      In qualifying you want the driver to push on the out-lap so that by the start of the flying lap the tyres reach the required temperature, but this carries the risk of premature damage to the outer layer and loss of grip. Therefore, it is not certain that all teams will approach qualifying with a fixed plan of one or two warm-up laps. The key to success will be finding the right compromise between warming up and wear that allows you to achieve maximum grip.

      In the race, the track temperature, the low abrasiveness of the asphalt and the fact that Pirelli brought three soft compounds – C3, C4 and C5 – create ideal conditions for graining, where small rubber particles form on the tyre surface, leading to a rapid deterioration of their characteristics, especially on the soft compound. This needs to be closely monitored. This year the tyres are showing greater resistance to graining than before, but this factor must always be taken into account when preparing for the Las Vegas race.

      This year all sessions in Vegas have been moved two hours earlier, which will make the conditions less extreme. Higher air and track temperatures will help with tyre work. But we do not expect radical changes compared to last year. It is important to carry out a detailed analysis of the information gathered in free practice to optimize preparation for qualifying and control over tyre condition in the race."