Formula 1 tyre supplier Pirelli has gone aggressive with the compounds they have nominated for the Spanish and Canadian Grand Prix's later in 2018.
Two circuits usually at either end of the spectrum, a new surface at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is allowing Pirelli to go much softer with their tyres than in recent years, with the old tarmac famous for being very abrasive.
From being the only venue where the Hard tyre was used last season, now the Supersoft, Soft and Medium will be used when F1 returns in May with the new approach also part of an effort to ensure multi-stop strategies.
The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal has the opposite characteristics with cars running low downforce and a very low grip surface as the track is only used for racing once a year.
As a result, it is the first race which Pirelli has nominated the new Hypersoft compound, along with the Ultrasoft and Supersoft. Canada won't be the first race it is used, however, as the Monaco Grand Prix takes place two weeks prior.
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The decision to use the pink-striped rubber was delayed slightly to see how it would perform in testing and, according to Renault technical director Nick Chester, durability is better than expected.
"The Hypersoft hung on a lot better than we expected," he said. "We thought it might be a single-lap tyre but Nico [Hulkenberg] had three good push laps on it with cool laps in-between and was quickest on his last one.
"It was a bit grained by the last lap but for a high energy track like here [Barcelona] it was hanging on quite well," he added.
