High track temperatures and rough asphalt at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya are set to make tyre management decisive in Sunday's Formula 1 race.
Pirelli chief engineer Simone Berra said degradation levels reached two or three tenths of a second per lap due to track characteristics and temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius on Friday and Saturday.
The supplier brought softer C2, C3 and C4 compounds instead of the hardest options, turning the soft and medium tyres into one-lap qualifiers.
Head of motorsport Dario Marrafuschi noted varying team set-up choices, with some prioritising qualifying pace at the risk of rear tyre issues in the race.
Different rim designs, now developed by teams since 2025, add another variable, as some cool tyres more effectively in heat while others suit cooler conditions.
