Pirelli chief engineer warns F1 teams ahead of race: 'Tricky challenge'

Simone Berra, chief engineer at tyre supplier Pirelli explains why it will be so difficult to control the tyres this weekend. "It looks like being a particularly demanding weekend on the tyre front, as in fact was to be expected on a special track like Spa-Francorchamps. The fact that large sections of the track have been resurfaced has seen a significant increase in grip which, on the one hand, has made the track much quicker."

Berra warns teams

Berra pinpoints one factor that teams should be particularly mindful of. "While on the other hand, it has probably led to an increase in graining, especially on the Medium and Soft and therefore a consequent increase in performance degradation over a long distance. In both sessions, we also saw a marked track evolution."

The Italian foresees a tough challenge for the teams during the race. "As the track is expected to be mainly wet tomorrow and then dry on Sunday, the teams will have to rely on the data gathered today to come up with the best set-up and strategies on a track where it is already more complicated than usual to find the right compromise between the need for aerodynamic downforce to stop the tyres from sliding, especially in the second sector, and maintaining good top speed to be competitive in the quicker first and third sectors."

He added: "Compared to what we saw over the previous two years with this new generation of cars, the C2 seemed to be pretty competitive and could be a valid choice for the race, which explains why four teams have kept two sets for each of their drivers.”

This article was created in collaboration with Kada Sarkozi