Berra: The difference between the compositions corresponds to the calculations.

      Despite the hot weather, Pirelli had no issues with the tires on Friday…

      Simone Berra, Pirelli's chief engineer: “The first two practice sessions confirmed the balanced performance of all compounds. Despite the high asphalt temperature, wear was minimal and manageable across all three compounds, which are well-suited to the characteristics of this track.

      The most challenging areas for grip are at the exits of the first and second chicanes, while the long straights help effectively cool the tires. We observed signs of graining, particularly on the left front tire, but it was minor and did not have a significant impact.

      One particularly interesting point that emerged today concerns the Soft tires, which showed good stability over long runs and is an acceptable option for the race, but on Saturday it may be difficult to complete more than one fast lap on the C5 tires due to the loss of performance associated with thermal degradation.

      The difference between the compounds aligns with our calculations: about half a second between C4 and C5 and roughly two-tenths between C3 and C4. The difference is relatively small due to the relatively low longitudinal and lateral loads.

      Thus, for the Sunday race, there are several strategy options, and a red flag stoppage could create interesting opportunities when choosing the tire compound for the final stint.”