Why Imola F1 Race Will Prove Radical Tyre Strategy

The 2024 Formula 1 season reaches a major crossroads with the Imola Grand Prix serving as the defining test for the sport’s bold new tyre allocation scheme. Scheduled for May 19, Imola will be the first European round under the alternative tyre allocation format, known as ATA.

Under this system, each team receives just 11 sets of tyres per car for the weekend, instead of the traditional 13. The plan, officially approved by the FIA, aims to cut down on waste and environmental impact while adding new strategic variables for the teams.

Last season, Formula 1 trialed the ATA approach at Budapest and Monza. Drivers were required to use the hard compound in Q1, mediums in Q2, and softs in Q3.

Many drivers and teams raised concerns that unpredictable weather or red flags might affect the new format. They also pointed out that running fewer practice laps could make car setup trickier.

At Imola in 2024, teams will need to show they have adapted to the reduced tyre numbers. They must balance the need to collect setup data with the new limits imposed on compound choices and run plans.

Pirelli, Formula 1’s exclusive tyre supplier, supplies three compounds at Imola: C2, C3, and C4. In 2023, Imola saw qualifying laps where track temperatures swung by 13 degrees Celsius.

With northern Italy regularly seeing April and May rain showers, unpredictable weather is a real threat. Teams are studying whether the reduced tyre allocation might leave them struggling for fresh rubber in changing conditions or force reliance on used sets and guesswork in qualifying.

Drivers including Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen remarked on the complexities. Verstappen noted after the Budapest trial that the tyre rules “make things a lot more difficult,” while Hamilton suggested less running in practice could shorten teams’ learning windows.

At Imola, where overtaking is notoriously tough and grid position is vital, the outcome of the revised format could be more pronounced. The FIA reports that if weather stays dry, teams could be forced to run as little as eight laps in Friday practice on their limited tyres—down from the 15-20 laps common in previous years.

Besides the sporting test, Formula 1 is closely watching the environmental impact. Across a 22-race season, the tyre changes are estimated to save around 3,000 tyres from disposal, a major benefit in the sport’s drive toward sustainability, as highlighted by MIT’s research on sustainable motorsports.

Whether this benefit comes at the expense of on-track spectacle is what the Imola weekend will reveal. Teams must adapt quickly while preserving performance and safety.

The Imola Grand Prix starts at 3:00 p.m. local time on Sunday, with qualifying on Saturday and practice across Friday and Saturday morning. Many teams have brought updates for this race, making tyre strategy even more valuable.

As the first major European test of Formula 1’s radical tyre plan, all eyes are on Imola. The question remains whether less really can mean more when it comes to racing excitement and environmental stewardship.

Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.