TYRE PREVIEW: What does Pirelli plan to avoid a single-stop strategy in Azerbaijan?

Following the Italian Grand Prix, the Formula One field is now gearing up for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix where drivers will race with the three softest tyres of Pirelli’s six-compound range.

The European part of the Formula 1 season has come to an end at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, and the sport bids farewell to the Old Continent as it prepares for the final third of the championship, starting in Baku, the City of Winds.

The Azerbaijan capital is the biggest urban area on the Caspian Sea, as well as of the entire Caucasus region. It has hosted a Grand Prix every year since 2016 with the exception of 2020. Curiously, that first year it was known as the European Grand Prix, even though Azerbaijan is geographically in Asia.

The compounds

Pirelli is bringing its softest trio of 2025 compounds for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which is a step softer than last year. In fact, the C6 is back as the Soft, having already been used in Imola, Monaco and Montreal. The C5 will be the Medium and the C4 the Hard.

On a street circuit with low levels of grip and wear, bringing the same selection as in 2024 would inevitably have led to a one-stop strategy. Pirelli hopes that the slightly softer compounds will open the door for a two-stop strategy, which could be aided by the fact that this year’s range suffers much less from graining.

Strategy review

Although last year’s compounds came from the softest end of Pirelli’s range, the smooth surface and the low-speed corners saw the majority of the drivers pursue a single-stop strategy.

Fourteen drivers went with the C4 (Medium) for the first stint, with the rest of the field choosing the C3 (Hard). Of those on the front five rows of the grid, only McLaren’s Lando Norris and Williams’ Alex Albon went with the hardest compound.

As already mentioned, before the start the entire field looked to have planned on a single stop. However, Lance Stroll and Max Verstappen made a second stop, in the case of the former because of a puncture and for the latter, in an attempt to pick up the extra point for setting the fastest race lap, as did Pierre Gasly who drove the longest stint, completing 50 laps on the Hard, before switching to Softs on the penultimate lap.

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