F1 teams’ tyre picks for Australian Grand Prix revealed

Formula 1 teams’ selection of tyre compounds for the first grand prix of the season in Melbourne have been released.

Pirelli, the championship’s tyre supplier, has simplified its range of tyres for 2019 with the number of dry weather compounds down to five, from seven, and a new naming convention.

It has stayed away from the extreme ends of its range for the Australian Grand Prix, with the C2 to serve as the hard compound (white sidewall markings), the C3 as the medium (yellow), and the C4 as the soft (red).

Only Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo and Nico Hulkenberg will have 10 sets of soft tyres, the maximum number allowable of any compound.

The team-mates differ in the rest of their stock, however, with the Australian to take two sets of mediums and one set of hards as compared to one set of mediums and two sets of hards for the German.

Seven of the other nine teams have selected nine sets of soft compound tyres for each of their drivers, the exceptions being Racing Point and Williams at eight each, and one to two sets of hard compound tyres.

The Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix takes place from March 14-17, with F1 seeing its first two practice sessions on the second day of the event.