High grip and tyre wear raise strategy questions in Madrid
Early running at Formula 1’s first visit to the Madrid circuit has produced unexpectedly high grip levels alongside very high tyre degradation. Those combined factors have created uncertainty over Spanish Grand Prix strategy, with George Russell joking on Friday that it could become a six-stop race.
Formula 1’s first visit to the Madrid circuit has given drivers a higher level of grip than might normally be expected at a new venue. According to reports from the paddock, that grip level surprised some teams.
At the same time, the track has also shown very high tyre degradation in the early sessions. The combination of strong grip and heavy tyre wear has made the strategic picture for the Spanish Grand Prix difficult to predict.
That uncertainty was reflected in George Russell’s comment on Friday, when he joked that the race could turn into a six-stop event.
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