Izola: Skillful work with tires played a role

As predicted, the most popular strategy in Melbourne was two pit stops on the Medium-Hard-Hard scheme.

Mario IsolaPirelli: “First of all, congratulations to Carlos Sainz and everyone at Ferrari for the winning double, which once again proves that in such a competitive sport, where technology is pushed to its limits, nothing can be taken for granted. A new name on the winners list after two years of almost total dominance by Red Bull and Verstappen is good for Formula 1, as is the fact that the top four drivers in the drivers’ standings are only eleven points apart.

The race showed that the decision to include a “soft” three trains was correct. The battle turned out to be more intense than in previous years and skilled use of rubber played a role.

One of the key factors in Sainz’s success was the ability to extend the first stint on Medium, which subsequently gave him an advantage over his closest pursuers as the two Hard kits he used in the second and third stints were fresher goods.

Yes, Carlos was able to drive most of the first stint with a clear track in front of him, while his teammate was stuck in traffic, sandwiched between two McLaren cars. At the same time, Leclerc managed to overtake Norris, precisely because he made an earlier pit stop and was able to make better use of the effectiveness of the new Hard tires in the first laps of the second stint.

Granulating the tires was a key factor on the weekend, with the advantage going to those who handled it better.”