Pirelli prepares for a softer challenge at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix

The F1 circus is shifting gears from the streets of Monaco to the familiar tarmac of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for the seventh round of the season. It is a massive technical challenge, with Pirelli choosing to bring the C2, C3, and C4 compounds. This is a step softer than the usual selection for this circuit, a bold move designed to push teams toward more pit stops and force the inclusion of the hard compound in race strategies.

Every driver will be allocated two sets of the white-marked hard tyre, three of the yellow-marked medium, and eight of the red-marked soft. With the race date shifted and track temperatures expected to be high, the abrasive surface of the 4.657-kilometre track is going to be a nightmare for thermal degradation. The front axle is going to take a beating, especially through those high-speed corners.

Beyond the race weekend itself, the action continues at Montmeló with a two-day slick tyre test on June 16-17. Ferrari, Aston Martin, and Cadillac will all be staying behind to put in the work. It is going to be fascinating to see which teams actually made the most of their time here during the pre-season testing back in January.