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Monaco: round six of the Championship. This year once more, Pirelli is bringing the soft
and the supersoft tyre.
So how does Pirelli decide the compound choice for each race? The tyre supplier takes into
account four key factors that define the amount of stress and consequently wear that is placed
on the tyres.
Tarmac roughness. Monaco is the least abrasive track of the year. If you add in the fact
that Monaco also has the lowest average speed of the year (including the slowest corner
of the season) - at just 47kph- it�s easy to see how tyre wear is minimal.
Circuit layout. Each circuit obviously has its own individual layout, which puts different
levels of energy into the tyres. This depends on factors such as the severity of braking
and whether there are mainly fast or slow corners � all of which define how much longitudinal
and lateral force is put through the tyres.
Monaco is particularly heavy on brakes. This transmits heat to the tyres, which adds to
the stress placed on the tyre construction. Entering Sainte Devote, for example, the cars
scrub off 160kph in just 100 metres. The tyres also have extremely heavy demands placed on
them in the swimming pool complex, where they hit the kerbs at more than 200kph and experience
lateral accelerations of 3.65g.
Weather conditions. The track and air temperature affects tyre-warm up and tyre behaviour.
Past experience. Historical data backs up Pirelli�s decision to stick with the soft
and supersoft compounds for the tight and narrow Monaco street circuit where, in the
past, the outcome of the race has been decided by strategy.