Pirelli: Tires played a key role

      The race in Barcelona took place in hot weather, with tires wearing out quickly – and the strategy factor played its role…

      Dario Marraffuschi, director of Pirelli Motorsport: “The race in Barcelona became one of the most interesting since the beginning of the season in terms of strategy.

      Tires played a key role, thanks to their serious wear due to the hot weather and the choice of softer compounds. The two-stop strategy turned out to be quite effective, but the real winning move was the foresight shown by some teams, who immediately opted for three pit stops on Sunday.

      For example, at Ferrari, they decided to split the strategy of their drivers – Leclerc, starting tenth, made two pit stops, while the decision for three pit stops for Lewis Hamilton brought the Brit his first victory with Ferrari.

      It is likely that Ferrari identified this option as the best for Hamilton from the very beginning. In the end, the advantage was maintained until the finish, partly thanks to the deployment of the virtual safety car.”