The 2023 Formula 1 season is commencing with the Bahrain Grand Prix scheduled for March 3-5, featuring the debut of Pirelli’s fresh C1 tire. Pirelli has introduced six different tire compounds for this season, with the C0 being the hardest and the C5 is the softest.
The new C1 tire is positioned between the C0 (formerly known as C1 in 2022) and the unaltered C2 compound from the previous year.
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For the Bahrain Grand Prix, the white-banded hard tire will be the C1, the yellow-banded medium tire will be the C2, and the red-banded soft tire will be the C3. Each team’s car will be provided with two sets of hard tires, three sets of medium tires, and eight sets of soft tires, along with the availability of intermediates and wets if required.
According to Mario Isola, the Director of Pirelli Motorsport, the initial race of the championship will serve as a crucial assessment to confirm the efficacy of the tire development efforts undertaken over the past year. These efforts have facilitated the enhancement of the tire structure and the launch of a new compound.
It seems that Pirelli, the official tire supplier of Formula 1, is introducing a new tire compound called C1, which is based on last year’s C2 compound. This new compound aims to reduce the performance gap between the harder tire compounds in the range. Pirelli expects the C1 to be a valid option for the upcoming Bahrain Grand Prix, which is known for its abrasive track surface and extreme temperatures.
According to Pirelli, the Bahrain International Circuit is known for having one of the roughest asphalt surfaces of the year. Additionally, the temperatures can reach up to 45 degrees Celsius during the day but drop by at least 15 degrees Celsius after sunset. The surrounding desert’s wind and sand can also affect the grip on the track.
