Despite the heat, Pirelli is expecting one pit stop.

      Despite the very hot weather over the weekend, Pirelli is expecting one pit stop in Spielberg – compared to two last year…

      The tire manufacturers will bring the softest compounds – C3, C4, and C5 as Hard, Medium, and Soft. Mechanical wear is not a determining factor in Austria, where tires wear mainly due to overheating. The asphalt on the track was laid several years ago and has a high degree of micro and macro abrasiveness, which in itself leads to tire overheating.

      Thanks to the layer of worn rubber on the asphalt, left over from numerous racing events throughout the year, grip will be good – and will further improve over the weekend.

      During accelerations, the rear tires are loaded and wear out more, while during braking on descents, the front tires do. The Red Bull Ring has a significant elevation change of 63 meters, which is the second highest in the calendar. Powerful new power units will provoke wheel locking, especially on descents.

      Another important aspect is related to altitude. At an altitude of over 600 meters, the thin air creates less downforce, which can also lead to tire slipping.

      Last year, most teams completed the distance with two pit stops, and all three declared tire compounds were used during the Grand Prix. Given the more stable characteristics of today's tires, it can be expected that teams will more frequently use a one-pit-stop strategy.

      The high air temperature will also play a role, but the track is located in the mountainous Styria, where the surrounding forests sometimes create conditions for sudden weather changes.