C2 replaces C1 for the Texas race
The United States Grand Prix on 23–25 October will use C2 as hard, C3 as medium and C4 as soft. Pirelli’s selection, announced on 9 October and detailed in its 20 October preview, removes last year’s gap between C1 and C3. The change concerns the hard compound; medium and soft remain associated with the same compound codes.
Three practice sessions and 13 slick sets
The official schedule confirms three practice sessions, qualifying and the 56-lap race, without a Sprint. Formula 1 specifies the standard allocation: two hard sets, three medium and eight soft per driver, plus wet-weather tyres when needed. A dry race requires at least two different slick compounds. Teams therefore have time for comparisons in practice, while still needing to manage the sets retained for Sunday.
Where COTA uses its tyres
Pirelli highlights front-axle demands through the fast first-sector corners and rear-tyre thermal degradation under acceleration in the final sector. The supplier also notes resurfacing between Turns 9 and 11. C2 could support long stints, but temperature and wear will determine how attractive a single stop remains.
How to read the race simulations
APEX’s interpretation: watch lap-time progression across consecutive laps, alongside tyre age and traffic. A single quick lap does not reveal a set’s useful life. Comparing stints is more meaningful when temperatures and conditions are similar; only then can the benefit of an extra stop be weighed against the time lost in the pits.
