Evaluation: Why Aston Martin made medium tyre name – and did it price Alonso victory?

After the Monaco Grand Prix Fernando Alonso was fast to reject recommendations that his Aston Martin group had price him victory by not placing him on intermediate tyres when he made his first pit cease on lap 54.

Alonso defended the choice to suit one other set of dry climate tyres, the medium compound, regardless of the rain which was falling across the monitor.

However different drivers who pitted shortly earlier than Alonso and likewise took slick tyres admitted after the race their groups had made a mistake. Did Aston Martin subsequently slip up, and will they even have squandered a possibility to win?

Like Alonso, Pierre Gasly began the race on a set of onerous tyres. He rose from seventh on the grid to run third, then got here in for a set of the medium compound tyres on lap 47. He stated after the race he was “dissatisfied and confused” along with his technique.

“After we’re operating in P3 and I’m going inexperienced [in the sectors] and we all know the rain is coming, I used to be within the excellent place to only keep lengthy. I referred to as on the radio I wished to remain lengthy and profit from the circumstances. After which we boxed and two laps later rain got here.” Gasly was annoyed by his pit cease timing

Lando Norris, who began on the medium tyres, was dissatisfied he missed the chance to emulate race-winner Max Verstappen by operating the softer tyres till he was capable of pit for intermediates.

“We did the additional pit cease within the center, which additionally was most likely simply one thing we have to assessment,” he stated. “I clearly went with the knowledge I used to be given, however possibly I ought to have questioned a bit extra if we should always have waited one or two extra laps and seen how moist it received earlier than going onto the onerous tyre or going onto the intermediates.”

Between these two pit stops for Gasly and Norris on laps 47 and 50 respectively, and Alonso’s pit cease at which he additionally took slicks on lap 54, six different drivers modified tyres. All of them took intermediates:

DriverStaffLapTimeTyre
Pierre GaslyAlpine4716:04:16Medium
Lando NorrisMcLaren5016:08:48Onerous
Valtteri BottasAlfa Romeo5116:10:46Intermediate
Lance StrollAston Martin5116:10:52Intermediate
Zhou GuanyuAlfa Romeo5216:12:35Intermediate
Alexander AlbonWilliams5216:12:37Intermediate
Yuki TsunodaAlphaTauri5316:13:18Intermediate
Logan SargeantWilliams5216:13:19Intermediate
Fernando AlonsoAston Martin5416:13:32Medium
Nyck de VriesAlphaTauri5316:13:47Intermediate
George RussellMercedes5416:13:57Intermediate

Among the many drivers to return in was Alonso’s group mate, Lance Stroll, who took a set of intermediate tyres two-and-a-half laps earlier than his group mate. Sadly their alternative to realize data from his expertise was misplaced when he retired quickly afterwards.

The rain had solely fallen on a part of the circuit at the moment and the primary drivers to suit intermediate tyres didn’t instantly produce faster lap instances than these on slicks. So whereas some drivers felt intermediates have been value contemplating, it was not but clear they have been completely important.

Nonetheless the slick-shod runners’ lap instances have been deteriorating. The query Aston Martin confronted was whether or not the rain was going to worsen to the purpose the place intermediate tyres grew to become important, or would halt and the monitor would dry out.

They needed to stability that in opposition to their race state of affairs. Alonso had began the race on the onerous tyres and Verstappen forward was on mediums. Whereas Verstappen’s tyres have been much less nicely suited to such a protracted first stint, the softer compound was the higher factor to have as rain fell and temperatures dropped. However though Alonso reported being uncomfortable on his onerous tyres, his lap instances have been near Verstappen’s.

Earlier than the rain fell, Alonso’s race engineer Chris Cronin alerted him to the opportunity of a bathe. Nonetheless they weren’t initially involved it could result in important rainfall. Their precedence was constructing a niche over different lapped automobiles behind them, to minimise the quantity of site visitors Alonso must get by way of after his pit cease:

AlonsoWhat are the threats? Principally.
CroninSo primarily rain in about 15 laps, doubtlessly.
AlonsoI imply if we cease, what would be the menace
CroninNothing Fernando, nothing. It’s simply going by way of that site visitors once more.
AlonsoOkay, copy, understood. So put together a brilliant secure pit cease.
CroninSo in the meanwhile, if we hold this tempo, possibly six laps and also you’ll clear Bottas and that’s just one left, so that may be good.
AlonsoNo drawback.
CroninOkay so that you’ve cleared Albon and Zhou.
AlonsoYeah take some margin ’til we clear, three seconds or no matter
CroninYeah copy Fernando. So monitor temp is dropping. So you could possibly undoubtedly lean on the tyres laterally. Only a little bit of care longitudinally.

The group took be aware that Verstappen forward was being warned about rain. Their expectation at this early stage was that the rainfall could be mild.

Alonso talked about his desire for “recent rubber” at this stage. As he’d began on onerous tyres, if circumstances remained dry sufficient he would change to mediums. This promised handy him a bonus as Verstappen would possible have to suit hards. Aston Martin had higher tyre warm-up than Purple Bull, and with the rain decreasing the monitor temperatures the circumstances have been taking part in into Aston Martin’s arms.

CroninAnd Fernando only a test on aero stability. Test on aero stability.
AlonsoIt’s okay.
CroninCopy that. Copy.
CroninSo Verstappen has talked about a little bit of rain, small spots of rain, turns six to eight.
CroninOkay, so now we have simply cleared Magnussen, however we’ll hold going. You’ve received Bottas and De Vries nonetheless to go however they’re fairly a bit additional.
AlonsoClearly, after we clear these guys I believe it’s safer to cease anyway. In case of rain you assume recent rubber will…
CroninYeah copy that Fernando, copy. We agree and we’ll simply construct up on tempo

Nonetheless the rain continued to construct. Aston Martin requested Alonso if he wished intermediates, and he answered that trusted whether or not the rain would intensify. Aston Martin have been satisfied the rain would solely be temporary and lightweight:

AlonsoYeah it’s raining additionally out of 10.
CroninReport of rain at flip three, little bit of rain flip three.
AlonsoYeah. What’s the forecast rain?
CroninSo our forecast is saying it’s mild, mild rain solely.
AlonsoYeah, the onerous tyre is just not one of the best, man. I don’t know what to do.
AlonsoYeah raining heavy in seven. Very sluggish.
CroninIs it nonetheless medium tyres, although? Nonetheless medium tyres? Flip seven.
AlonsoHow is the tempo?
CroninSlippery monitor forward. So just like Verstappen, similar to Verstappen. Simply have a assume when you assume it’s inters.
AlonsoIs determined by the forecast, mate
CroninWe expect it’s a brief bathe on the radar.

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Whereas Verstappen stayed out, Aston Martin dedicated to pitting. Alonso repeated his desire for “recent rubber”. Had the rain not elevated in depth that may have performed into Aston Martin’s arms superbly, however as a substitute he missed the right alternative to modify to intermediate tyres:

AlonsoHowever we do no matter he does or what?
CroninVerstappen stayed out, Verstappen stayed out. You’re nonetheless away from Ocon’s pit window. You’re okay to remain out. It’s completely dry right here.
AlonsoBy how a lot as a result of possibly we match the dries. We’re in the identical circumstances as them however with recent rubber.
CroninYeah, Yeah, we’re on that. We’re interested by that. You’re presently pulling away from Ocon
AlonsoYeah, seven and eight most likely go for inters however the remainder of the circuit will probably be too dry, I suppose. I don’t know mate.
CroninOkay mate. We’re going to field this lap, please, field this lap. And it is going to be for mediums. Field. Field.
CroninSo you are able to do run change ‘race’, run change ‘race’.

As Alonso got here in he noticed different pit containers laid out for drivers who have been all switching to intermediate tyres. He will need to have suspected at that second they’d made the unsuitable name, and simply two corners after rejoining the monitor he indicated he could be again in quickly.

Alonso did an excellent job to deliver his automobile round once more with out crashing, as did all of the drivers on older, colder slick rubber. Behind him Russell rejoined the monitor on a recent set of intermediates and instantly ran off at Mirabeau:

AlonsoOkay so test individuals for inters and issues like that.
CroninYeah mate, we’re watching. We’re watching. You’re nicely away from Ocon, straightforward. So let’s simply heat these tyres up. Secure as you may. Russell behind you has additionally pitted so that you’re all clear behind. Verstappen stayed out.
AlonsoYep. Raining heavy in flip three. Will probably be inters I believe. Yeah raining very heavy in 5. Inters subsequent lap.
CroninCopy mate, understood.

Aston Martin had gone into the race decided to play the “lengthy recreation”, Alonso stated afterwards. Beginning on onerous tyres gave them larger flexibility if rain arrived. Their superior tyre warm-up promised to play into their arms if the rainfall was not fairly sufficient to set off a change to intermediate tyres.

Given the lap instances of the drivers who pitted earlier than them, it’s unsuitable to say they completely ought to have introduced Alonso in for intermediate tyres on lap 54. However selecting to deliver him in for intermediate tyres at that stage made little sense. Nonetheless sad he was along with his tyres, his lap instances have been fantastic.

On the entrance of the sector, Purple Bull knew they’d an eight-second hole over Alonso, and will afford to be affected person and wait to see whether or not the rain received worse. “We had a lot margin, we didn’t must strain and get that call unsuitable,” stated group principal Christian Horner. “We had the time and the circuit. It wasn’t prefer it was flooding with rain.

“In order that gave us the power, we may lose 4, 5, six seconds on an in-lap and nonetheless come out forward of Fernando. And after we noticed him go away the pits on slicks, there’s was a query of, okay, don’t even strive.”

Alonso had 24 seconds in hand over the following automobile behind when he got here in, so Aston Martin’s reasoning ought to have been the identical. As Horner put it, it “allow them to off the hook”.

Mercedes group principal Toto Wolff went additional saying, “that may have gained them the race, I suppose.” Whether or not that’s the case or not is a query which is able to stay unanswered. However whereas Alonso initially insisted his group made the suitable resolution and Verstappen would have gained regardless of the circumstances, he could change his thoughts as soon as he’s had an opportunity to check all the information.

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