Aston Martin has admitted that its unusual scrubbed tyre strategies in Formula One this year were motivated more by improving pitstops than by being creative with curing compounds.
The decisive 2023 tyres will receive their first thorough track testing during Tuesday's Abu Dhabi test, which will be important for both Pirelli and the Formula 1 teams.
The plan to reduce Formula 1 tyre blanket temperatures from 70°C to 50°C in 2023 is being reconsidered and may be scrapped.
Sergio Perez, the hometown hero, will start fourth, but given Red Bull's recent dominance, it wouldn't surprise anyone if he ended up on the podium.
The new Formula 1 season was expected to be a test of the new Pirelli 18-inch tyres as well, aside from the new cars.
With the exception of Williams, all F1 teams participated in Pirelli's 18-inch wheel tyre development program last year.
A pair of high-speed crashes for Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and race leader Max Verstappen turned the 2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix on its head.