Ultrasofts feature big in Monaco tyre selections

Pirelli have revealed the tyre allocations selected by each team for next weekend’s Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco 2016, where their new ultrasoft compound will make its debut. And several drivers have been very aggressive in their choices, including world champion Lewis Hamilton and points leader Nico Rosberg.

The compounds available for the Monte Carlo street race are the three softest in Pirelli’s range - the yellow-marked soft, the red-marked supersoft and the purple-marked ultrasoft.

At Mercedes, Hamilton’s and Rosberg’s 13-set allocation comprises 10 sets of ultrasofts, two sets of supersofts and one set of softs. The only others to make such an extreme selection are Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen, and Renault’s Kevin Magnussen.

In contrast, teams such as Force India and Toro Rosso have been far more conservative in the selections, with their drivers opting for seven sets of ultras, three of supersofts and three of softs.

The Monaco tyre selections in full:

Under the 2016 regulations, Pirelli make three of their five dry-weather tyre compounds available at each event.

The Italian company allocates two sets of tyres for the race (only one of which must be used) and one set which can only be used in Q3 (the softest of the chosen three compounds). Each driver is then able to choose 10 further sets of tyres from the three compounds to take their weekend allocation to 13.