Pirelli’s new tyre the ‘Hypersoft’ is debuting in the Monaco Grand Prix and the new compound will make the qualifying race an “absolute madness”, says Renault F1 driver Carlos Sainz.
Most of the F1 teams have opted to take a lot of hypersoft tyres for the Monaco race. Red Bull, Williams and Renault have taken as many as 11 out of total 13 sets of the pink tyre.
Many drivers sample tested the pink compound at the in-season testing after the Spanish Grand Prix.
Based on his test drive, Sainz said:”It is quite impressive, that tyre, I must say. It gives easily a second per lap, and we’re at Barcelona where the last sector normally you arrive with the tyre quite on the limit.
“This tyre around Monaco could be something special. We will see very quick laptimes if that is the case. I would be prepared to see lap records in Monaco again.”
When asked what he expects from the Monte Carlo streets this year, he said: “Absolutely madness. It will be crazy.
“Already last year with the new cars it was something incredible, and this year, two steps softer compound and the tyre that for me is the best tyre Pirelli has done in a lot of years, it’s going to be crazy.”
Sainz is not alone in expecting faster lap times. Toro Rosso’s Brendon Hartley also believes the new compound will make the race more spectacular.
“I think in Monaco you have a lot less degradation anyway than a track like Barcelona,” said the Kiwi. “I think it will be entertaining to have so much grip around one lap in Monaco.
“I don’t suspect the drop-off will be as big as other tracks.
“It’s very low on tyre degradation. I think all the drivers are happy that we have it because qualifying will be very fun.”
But Pirelli believes the real potential of the pink tyre will be seen at the Canadian grand prix.
“While the soft, super and ultra are quite close, the hyper is a step,” he said. “The point is that Monaco is also a unique circuit, so I’m not sure if we can see the real potential of the hypersoft in Monaco – we’ll probably see something more in Montreal about the hypersoft. Monaco is very, very low severity.”
Pirelli boss Mario Isola predicts the team will run on the softest compound in the first stint for as long as possible at the Monaco race.
“The hypersoft is not [just] a qualifying tyre in Monaco, it’s also a tyre for the race, and I’m sure that comparing the numbers and what we saw in Abu Dhabi, you can run a decent stint in Monaco with the hypersoft.
“In Monaco, it’s always the same, the softest choice is the one that everyone will want to take as long as possible.”
