F1: Driver Lineup for Tuesday’s 2023 Pirelli tire test

Tuesday’s Abu Dhabi test will give Formula 1 teams and Pirelli a final look at the tires Pirelli has chosen for 2023.

Veteran Drivers – 10 sets: 1 C1, 1 C2, 3 C3, 3 C4, 2 C5.

Rookie drivers – 8 sets: 2 C3, 4 C4, 2 C5.

“The allocation was decided together with the FIA,” said Pirelli chief engineer Simone Berra when asked by Autosport about the choices.

“So we will bring just one set of the hardest range, C1 and C2, and some sets of C3, C4 and C5, obviously, because they are more suitable for this circuit.

“The idea is that the young drivers can work more on the softer range, and just protect their confidence with the car.”

Pirelli F1 Abu Dhabi post-season test – driver line-up

Alfa Romeo: Valtteri Bottas and Theo Pourchaire
AlphaTauri: Yuki Tsunoda and Nyck de VriesRed Bull: TBC and Liam Lawson
Alpine: Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan
Aston Martin: Fernando Alonso/Lance Stroll and Felipe Drugovich
Ferrari: Charles Leclerc/Carlos Sainz and Robert Shwartzman
Haas: Nico Hulkenberg and Pietro Fittipaldi
McLaren: Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri
Mercedes: TBD and Frederik Vesti
Williams: Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant

For 2023 the five existing slick compounds are unchanged from this year, and the key novelty for next season is the construction.

“The 2023 specification is different in terms of structure on both front and rear axle, mainly on the front,” said Berra. “We worked a lot on the structure to improve the integrity of the front axle, and to decrease a little bit the front axle pressure prescriptions from what we have now at the moment.”

Berra confirmed that there will be an extra sixth compound choice in 2023, with the current C1 becoming the C0, and a new C1 introduced to fill a perceived gap between the current C1 and C2.

“We have a new version of the C1. So the C1 is no more the current C1, it’s a new one that should provide more grip compared to the old one, that was less grippy. We received feedback that the grip was lacking a little bit on the C1.

“The current C1 will become for next year the C0. So, next year we will have six compounds, C0 that is the current C1, the new C1, and then the others that remain exactly the same compound on the new structure.

“The C0 will be used at the most stressful circuits, which will probably be Silverstone, Suzuka and Qatar for next year.”