Pirelli to take F1 to hyperspeed in '18 with 2 new tire compounds

By Sam Hall, Crain News Service

MILAN, Italy — Seven will be the magic number for Pirelli & C. S.p.A. in 2018, as the official tire manufacturer of Formula 1 racing is increasing the number of dry compound options from five to a staggering seven for F1 teams.

Just why so many tire options are needed is beyond most people. While it's clear that a simple choice of hard or soft tires would not work — thanks to the wide variety of track surfaces and climates on the calendar — seven may seem a little excessive to some.

The existing range of ultrasoft, supersoft, soft, medium and hard have been bolstered by the introduction of the hypersoft and superhard tires.

In addition to the new compounds, Pirelli also said that all of its tires will be a step softer than in 2017, “making them the fastest tires in Formula 1 history.”

Given how short the life of the 2017 ultrasoft tire proved to be during a Grand Prix in 2017, the hypersoft — essentially two steps softer — "will surely be used almost exclusively as a qualifying tire," according to the tire maker.

The pink-walled hypersoft will debut in the postseason test on the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi.

This report appeared in Autoweek magazine, a Detroit-based sister publication of Tire Business.