BREAKING: FIA Announce MANDATORY tyre change for all F1 stars as…read more
FIA Enforces Tyre Compound Change for Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
The FIA has introduced a mandatory tyre compound change for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in an effort to shake up race strategy and deliver more exciting racing.
Pirelli, Formula 1’s official tyre supplier, confirmed that for Round 5 in Jeddah, teams will run a softer set of compounds than those used in the season’s opening races. The C3 will serve as the Hard tyre, the C4 as Medium, and the C5 as Soft.
The move follows discussions between the FIA, Pirelli, and F1 teams, with the goal of promoting more strategic variety and creating less predictable races.
“We want to encourage more action and different strategy options,” a Pirelli representative stated. “Previous Saudi races have mostly seen one-stop strategies dominate, and softer tyres should prompt teams to mix things up.”
The decision comes after a lack of on-track drama in recent races, especially at the Japanese Grand Prix, where low tyre wear and a one-stop approach saw Max Verstappen lead unchallenged from start to finish. With just 15 overtakes after the first lap, the race drew criticism for being too processional.
Track resurfacing in both Japan and China contributed to the reduced tyre wear, highlighting how smoother surfaces limit degradation. However, the Jeddah Corniche Circuit has not undergone resurfacing, and with high temperatures expected, tyre degradation could be far greater this weekend.
The combination of softer compounds and intense heat is likely to force teams to rethink their usual strategies, potentially leading to more pit stops and on-track battles.
The FIA and Pirelli hope that this tyre change will inject more unpredictability into the race and help reignite excitement in the early stages of the 2025 season.
