Pirelli has confirmed it will introduce a softer tire compound in 2018, with fans asked to pick the name via social media.
This season saw a new “ultrasoft” compound tire introduced as the softest available compound, joining the hard, medium, soft and supersoft as part of the Pirelli range. Following complaints that this year’s compounds were too hard, Formula 1’s tire supplier has announced it will introduce a sixth compound in 2018, which will be another step softer than the ultrasoft.
The new tire is confirmed as having pink markings, but a name has yet to be settled on, with fans being asked to choose between the three options of “megasoft,” “extremesoft” and “hypersoft” via Pirelli’s Twitter account.
Pirelli’s racing manager Mario Isola this weekend stated there could be as many as eight different compounds used in 2018, with the tire manufacturer keen to have a wider range in order to better match the selections to the demands of each specific circuit.
After a day of running for McLaren at Interlagos on Tuesday, Pirelli is holding a tire test with all 10 F1 teams at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi on the Tuesday and Wednesday after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which will provide the teams with the first opportunity to test next year’s tire compounds.
Comments