Alesi: The super soft tires could make “a huge difference” in Monaco

For the first time in the 2014 season, Pirelli will supply super soft tires – with red sidewalls – to the teams on the streets of Monte Carlo.

The urban layout of Monaco being the slowest circuit of the season, aerodynamic downforce is less important than mechanical grip, compared to other circuits.

In these circumstances, the tires undergo little degradation and, in theory, teams could complete the entire Grand Prix distance by making only one pit stop. But things aren’t that simple, as Pirelli Motorsport director Paul Hembery explains: “The tire grip and their wear are generally low, and it is possible to complete the entire Grand Prix with just one pit stop. However, this isn’t always the most effective solution. […] The race strategy needs to be flexible due to the possibility of a safety car appearance. The key to success will be having a good read of events in order to seize the first opportunity that arises.”

It will obviously be necessary to take into account the great difficulty of overtaking on the streets of the principality, Hembery adds: You will need to be a fine strategist to master the challenges of this circuit where overtaking is traditionally difficult. Therefore, qualifying will be of paramount importance.

The former F1 driver Jean Alesi, currently Pirelli’s Ambassador, emphasizes that the introduction of ‘Supersoft’ tires will allow the cars to flirt with their performance limits, even if it will be necessary to wait for the track to become more adhesive on Saturday, when the asphalt is covered with rubber, to see lap times evolve significantly, he adds.

The Avignon native believes that the final laps will need to be closely watched. He states: “The strategy, finally, will be interesting, and I think having fresh super soft tires at the end of the race could make a big difference.”