Pirelli explain jump in compounds for Austin and Mexico

Pirelli is introducing a strategic shift in tyre compound selection for the upcoming United States and Mexico City Grands Prix, opting for non-consecutive compounds to spice up race strategies. Motorsport Director Mario Isola explained that skipping a compound between the hard and medium options aims to create a wider performance differential, thus encouraging teams to consider both one-stop and two-stop races. This approach, previously trialled at Spa-Francorchamps, is designed to make two-stop strategies potentially faster, thereby compelling teams to take more aggressive decisions. For Austin, Pirelli will provide C1 (hard), C3 (medium), and C4 (soft), while Mexico City will see C2 (hard), C4 (medium), and C5 (soft) compounds, tailored to each circuit's unique demands.