Pirelli warns of high tire graining in China

Pirelli has raised concerns about high graining on the medium tire compound during the Chinese Grand Prix. This warning follows a 19-lap sprint race where teams experienced significant tire wear. Pirelli's motorsport director, Mario Isola, noted that the resurfaced Shanghai International Circuit poses challenges for teams, potentially leading to a three-stop strategy. During the sprint race, all drivers faced difficulties as tire performance declined sharply. Some even had to pit early for new tires. Isola mentioned that teams had not yet tested the hard tire on this track, making it difficult to predict its performance. He suggested that the best strategy for Sunday’s race would involve two stops: medium for the first and two hard tires later. Isola also acknowledged that teams might resort to a three-stop strategy if tire wear was higher than expected. He explained that recovering time lost during pit stops could be feasible with significant tire degradation. Lewis Hamilton, who won the sprint race, echoed the struggles of managing tire life and described the grip on the new track surface as both beneficial and challenging. The starting grid for the Chinese Grand Prix features Oscar Piastri in pole position, followed by George Russell and Lando Norris. Other notable drivers include Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton in fifth place. The race on Sunday will reveal how teams adapt to tire challenges.