Does Norris Have an Edge? Pirelli Reveals Optimal Strategy!

The weather at Spa on Saturday was wet, forcing all 20 F1 drivers to use Pirelli’s intermediate tires.

On Sunday, the Belgian Grand Prix is expected to be dry, so teams need to plan their tire strategy carefully. Max Verstappen might face a challenge with his tire choices if Pirelli’s predictions are accurate.

Mario Isola from Pirelli mentioned that new asphalt on parts of the track has changed things. “Compared to last year, the new track surface has now shifted the balance significantly towards a two-stop strategy,” he said. “It also means that the hardest tyre here, the C2, is now much more suitable for the race than it was twelve months ago, to the detriment of the softest C4.”

Norris at an advantage over Verstappen?

Verstappen starts from 11th place and has one set of hard tires and two sets of mediums left for the race. His teammate Sergio Perez has the same. Oscar Piastri still holds two sets of hard tires plus one set of mediums. Lando Norris seems better off with two sets of hard and one set of medium tires remaining.

Isola explains further: “On paper, the fastest strategy is to run the first stint on Medium before doing a double stint on Hard.” He adds that another option could be Medium/Hard/Medium but doesn’t rule out Soft/Hard/Hard or Soft/Hard/Medium strategies either. According to simulations, a one-stop strategy is too slow while three stops aren’t faster even though overtaking is possible on this track.

Fans might think this makes things more exciting!

The drivers’ tyre sets

Each driver’s remaining tire sets will play a crucial role in their performance during Sunday’s race. The right choice could make all the difference between winning and losing.

What do you think? Will Verstappen overcome his potential disadvantage?