Mercedes go conservative with Canadian GP tyre choices

16 comments on “Mercedes go conservative with Canadian GP tyre choices”

1. 

   Chaitanya
   29th May 2018, 12:10

   Will those Hypers last a single push lap? If not then the tyre selection from Mercs look like a good choice for the race.
   1. 

      Jere (@jerejj)
      29th May 2018, 12:14

      @Chaitanya They should last for longer than that as Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is a similarly low-deg circuit like Monaco.
      1. 

         Cartwheel
         29th May 2018, 15:17

         Except if it is 35C… Welcome to Montreal in the early summer- could be 10C, could be 35C.
2. 

   Jeanrien (@jeanrien)
   29th May 2018, 12:25

   Qualify on ultra then switch to super for a one stop race? Then they only need the hyper for Q3.
   Mercedes certainly has the pace to do that and it seems their car prefers harder compounds anyway this year…
   With that in mind, their selection looks proper and leaves doors opened.
   1. 

      nase
      29th May 2018, 15:11

      @jeanrien
      The thing is, we don’t know how well the Hypersoft will work in Canada. In some aspects, Monaco and Montreal are said to be comparable (bumpy, low grip asphalt and mostly very slow corners). But obviously, there are significant differences as well. The cars never really stop turning in Monaco, as even the straights are never really straight, not to mention the extremely slow corners. The tyres didn’t seem to like that. Montreal, on the other hand, has two long straights and three further acceleration zones in which the steering angle is minimal. In Monaco, the front tyres clearly suffered the most, while Montreal is a typical rear-limited circuit where traction is king.
      Therefore, the Hypersoft may work very differently in Canada, and we could find ourselves in a situation where the delta between Hypersoft and Ultrasoft isn’t as big as it was in Monaco, but the teams still chose to qualify on the softest tyre.
      I’m not saying that how it’s going to be, but it’s a hypothesis they will have to check during the Free Practice sessions.
   2. 

      Nitzo (@webtel)
      30th May 2018, 9:12

      @nase @jeanrien

      Qualify on ultra then switch to super for a one stop race? Then they only need the hyper for Q3.

      Although this is what most teams would like to do, i dont think they will have an option when it comes to Q2. Montreal is power sensitive, unlike monaco. So its only slightly more logical to qualify on HS (especially for the midfield). And F//RBR would end up qualifying on the HS if the delta is big enough.
      That being said, with so many Hypers being picked, i guess they’ll be using the SS in the race. Ideally, US-SS–Flag (Merc should get away with this)
      But what about the others ? Merc would build up the lead at the front with those somewhat more durable US. Ferrari and RBR may have to pit early (HS), make the SS last longer. Last year, both ferraris went for a 2 stop (thanks to contact and a brake issue i think) and couldn’t accomplish much.
      I am forecasting a very similar race to last year. No fight at the top after lap 3. Midfield battle could be fun. But i guess all of them will do a 1 stopper.
3. 

   RB14
   29th May 2018, 12:41

   This to me make far more sense then endless hypers of which 1-2 sets max will be used in qually and 1 set in the race.

   I think Ferrari and Mercedes will be able to get by with only using a set in Q3.
4. 

   FlatSix (@)
   29th May 2018, 13:00

   So what did Lance Stroll do??
   1. 

      Sham (@sham)
      29th May 2018, 13:05

      Captain Vague, you mean? Complain generically about a generic car problem that he can’t identify to explain away how slow he is, I expect.
      1. 

         Sush meerkat
         29th May 2018, 13:18

         @sham savage! I like nicknaming Stroll to captain vague!
   2. 

      Todfod (@todfod)
      29th May 2018, 20:35

      +1 Hahaha

      Probably got Papa Stroll to select his tyres for him.
   3. 

      Potsie (@potsie159)
      2nd June 2018, 11:10

      @FlatSix – thats quite a good question. All those Super Softs .. why ? Perhaps the Ultra Softs are no good for the Williams characteristics.

      My guess is Stroll is hoping for a lot of rain – He actually performs really well in the rain, which I have yet to see anyone actually acknowledge…
5. 

   Euro Brun (@eurobrun)
   29th May 2018, 17:39

   It would be fascinating to see what tyres the teams would have chosen if the picks were made after Monaco instead and how it compares.

   I suspect more would follow Mercedes’ choices.
6. 

   Siddharth (@sidprasher)
   29th May 2018, 18:44

   I think Ferrari and RBR think 2 stops are inevitable.
7. 

   Scotty
   30th May 2018, 7:11

   Isn’t it moldy ironic the hypersoft tyres are identified by the same color as bubblegum?
8. 

   Matteo (@m-bagattini)
   30th May 2018, 10:33

   Don’t know what you guys think but I’d love to see a race where both 1 stop and 2 stops strategies are viable. In this case, looks like Mercedes think they can go with a single stop while RBR and Ferrari are eyeing two. Can’t remember how easy or difficult it is to pass in Montreal, but we’re not in Monaco and I suppose that someone with a fresh hyper can pip a car mounting used SS/US.
   I loved some Schumacher races when he aggressively mounted fresh tires in 2 or 3 stops, losing and gaining, then losing and gaining again.

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