F1 Chinese GP – Tire pressure change for rest of weekend: Pirelli increases both front and rear pressures. It’s already time for tire changes at the F1 Chinese GP.

Pirelli is at work during the F1 China weekend: tire pressures are adjusted after Sprint Qualifying. The grip level of the new Shanghai asphalt is too high, which, compared to simulations, lowers lap times by “more than two seconds” for the cars. This change ensures the integrity of the tire compounds and driver safety, without negatively affecting performance.

The Chinese Friday opens with Ferrari’s first joy of the season. Lewis Hamilton takes pole position in the sprint qualifying, ahead of Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri. Ferrari beats Red Bull, while McLaren is confused by a less-than-optimal strategy. Too many errors from both drivers, with Lando Norris forced to start only in sixth position.

While Frédéric Vasseur preaches calm, focusing on the “negative” aspects of the SF-25, Maranello can finally regain some peace of mind. The car finds balance again and withstands the strong winds that complicate the rivals’ work, especially in the McLaren garage. However, starting from Saturday’s Sprint Race, Pirelli intervenes on the tires: an essential adjustment on the new Shanghai asphalt.

Pirelli increases tire pressures: no effect on performance
The tire pressures for this weekend, already considered fairly high, are further increased: the front pressure rises from 26.5 psi to 27.5 psi; the rear pressure increases from 23.0 psi to 24.0 psi. A routine adjustment, however, it has not been well received by the social media crowd, who are concerned about the potential effects on Ferrari.

Reassurance comes directly from Mario Isola, responding to a comment on Instagram: “[We increased the pressures] because the simulations we received underestimated the grip level of the asphalt, thus lowering car performance by more than 2 seconds per lap. 1 psi more does not change anything in terms of performance.”

Increasing tire pressures is necessary on high-grip tracks to ensure the structural integrity of the tire compounds. Too low a pressure can create issues in the shoulder area, which, if uncontrolled, can lead to failures and punctures.