Why Mexico FP2 is different and will last 30 minutes longer

Free Formula 1 weekend practice sessions in the traditional format last exactly one hour for both FP1 and FP2 on Fridays, and FP3 on Saturdays.

However, The second training session today in Mexico will last 90 minutes.as Pirelli will carry out important tests just before the homologation of the tire compounds in 2025.

In retrospect, this is a repeat of what was done at last year’s event, where the Italian manufacturer had previously tested a C4 prototype.

Pirelli needs real data to complete homologation for the new season.and given the lack of time for testing and all the restrictions that exist during the season, Free Practice 2 this weekend was identified as a great opportunity to gather information.

As Pirelli explained, the session will be “dedicated exclusively to testing” the softest compounds in next year’s tire line-up: the C4, C5 and C6 compounds.

To facilitate the test, the duration of FP2 will be increased to 90 minutes, with all drivers and teams required to follow the race plan set by the Italian supplier’s engineers.

Note:

Aston Martin and Pirelli engineers test Medium and Soft tires

Photo: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images

So, in addition to the usual tire distribution, this time the riders will get two more sets of tires. One of them will be a so-called “test control” tire, that is, the same compound as the regular soft tire, and the other will be the 2025 prototype, which Pirelli confirmed had already been homologated in September.

Specific programs will include a qualifying simulation and a racing simulation in which “all teams will complete the same number of laps with the same amount of fuel.”

These sets of tires will be recognizable because they will not have colored sidewalls..

A complication of the test is that some regular drivers give up their seats to rookies to complete one of the two compulsory rookie sessions in FP1, so devoting FP2 solely to testing the 2025 Pirelli could put them at a disadvantage.

Pirelli countered this situation by providing those affected with an additional set of medium compound tires for FP2 and allowing them 30 minutes of “free” driving during the 90 minutes of FP2.

The test data will be analyzed ahead of the post-season tire testing, which will take place at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.

Thanks to this test ITeams will face an engineering challenge similar to a sprint weekend.albeit with a bit of respite thanks to FP3 on the Saturday before qualifying.

Connected:

Why did Pirelli choose Mexico?

As Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg’s race engineer Gary Gannon told Motorsport.com: Drivers should not be fooled by vehicle balancing after driving on prototype tires..

Gannon also noted that there is no advantage to having two starters in the first practice: “If you don’t have a young rider in the first practice, you can’t use the extra time, so for us, who have two starters in the first practice, In the second practice session we will carry out only the Pirelli tire testing program.

“So it’s like FP2 doesn’t exist in terms of how we understand and use the race weekend, so we have to do all our Friday training work in FP1.”

The Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez stands out on the Formula 1 calendar due to its track layout and high altitude, suggesting it is an odd choice for tire testing.

But that’s why it was chosen, with Gannon saying: “Pirelli tires have to perform in all conditions, so it’s particularly important to find out if they are particularly weak at any point… they may have a compound that ‘works.’ very good in Barcelona, ​​not anywhere else.”

“This is one of the extreme cases, so we have a good baseline, a base tire and morning free practice so you know how the grip feels. In addition, the track improves significantly in the morning. FP1, so the test will take place in FP2, because if you try to do the test in Free Practice 1, the track changes radically, as it is cleaned and rubberized.

“In FP2 the conditions are very stable, so you can find out if this new compound or new design has any disadvantages on surfaces with very low grip or on smooth tarmac.”

“That’s why they have to test all these atypical patterns, because that’s where you get the data if you put a tire on the track that only runs, for example, at low downforce,” he concluded.