Pirelli: Tires in Zandvoort are experiencing high loads

      Pirelli tire manufacturers have prepared C2, C3, and C4 compound tires for the Dutch Grand Prix – the same selection was made last year. At that time, the race took place with two pit stops, aided by the appearance of the safety car, and throughout the distance, teams used tires from all three compounds.

      A characteristic feature of Zandvoort is the relatively low level of grip, which is related to the characteristics of the asphalt surface, different sections of which have been updated in different years, and the fact that the racetrack is located on the seaside, so the wind constantly brings sand onto the track. Because of this phenomenon, grip issues can arise not only on Friday but also in the following days; moreover, the level can even vary from session to session.

      The lap on the Dutch track is not very long, at 4.259 km, and it has 14 corners, some of which are high-speed, so the tires experience high vertical and lateral loads. This primarily applies to the 3rd and 14th corners, where the banking angle reaches 19 and 18 degrees respectively.

      Teams will need to carefully choose their settings, trying to achieve effective interaction between the chassis and the tires. A high level of downforce is required, quite comparable to what was seen at the stage in Hungary.

      In theory, a significant factor could be the temperature degradation of the tires, but in practice, the air in Zandvoort at the end of August rarely warms above 20 degrees, and there is a high likelihood of rain. It should also be noted that strong winds can blow in from the North Sea, which will also affect the behavior of the cars.

      For the first time, the Dutch Grand Prix program includes a Saturday sprint, so teams will have only one practice session lasting one hour, during which they must finalize their settings.

      Pirelli specialists believe that mainly hard tires will be used in the Sunday race; however, the two softer compounds will also be quite useful – primarily in the sprint.

      Overtaking on this track is difficult, as it is quite narrow, and there is only one straight, and all of this will also be taken into account by teams when choosing their tactics.