Tyre Strategy “Vital” as Hamilton, Button Complete McLaren

Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button completed a McLaren one-two at the Canadian Grand Prix, as tyre strategy took centre stage. Hamilton successfully deployed a super soft-medium-medium tyre strategy in Montreal. Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso finished third.

Hirohide Hamashima, Bridgestone director of Motorsport Tyre Development, summed up the race: “Tyre strategy and circuit evolution were vital factors in today’s race. The circuit was at its hottest of the weekend, meaning tyre performance was better than earlier in the weekend. The track improved after around ten laps, when rubber was laid on the surface, assisted by the hotter temperatures. We saw the race winner complete 44 laps on the medium compound, illustrating the extent of this circuit improvement. 

“At the start the degradation was high, even with the medium compound, which is why we saw such early pit stops. There were an interesting mix of pit stop strategies and tyre compound orders. A one stop strategy was not possible today and we saw a variety of two and three or more stops. The track surface and tyre performance evolution made the choices on the pitwall very difficult to make.”