Formula 1 title contenders Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel have opted for identical tyre choices for this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, as Red Bull make most aggressive choices of top three teams.
Just like Sepang a week ago, Italian supplier Pirelli has dropped the Hard compound which was brought in 2016 with the Supersoft tyre making its first appearance on the technical and iconic Suzuka layout.
The mix of fast, sweeping corners in the first half of the lap combined with the more power-sensitive second half as well as the unique figure of eight design which means a much more even split of right and left-handers compared to most circuits offer a complete test of both car and tyres, which is why the harder compounds are traditionally favoured.
However, as this year’s rubber has proven particularly durable, the decision was taken to go a step softer than before with the use of the Supersoft potentially a problem for Mercedes who have struggled on the red-striped tyre compared to Ferrari and Red Bull.
It is quite surprising then that both the Scuderia and the Silver Arrows have taken the same path with their allocation as both Vettel and Hamilton will both have seven sets of the Supersoft, five of the Soft and a single Medium.
Their respective teammates also have the same tyres at their disposal but both Kimi Raikkonen and Valtteri Bottas have an additional set of the white-striped Medium compound with one less Soft.
Should the Supersoft prove a good tyre around Suzuka, however, Red Bull could well be in the box seats with nine sets available with just three Soft and single Medium. Renault, Toro Rosso and Sauber have also opted for the same approach.
Continuing the trend of 2017, McLaren has gone all in on the softest compound with 10 sets of Supersoft, two Soft and one Medium with Williams the only team to have gone with an eight, four, one split.
An interesting factor which would either help or hinder Red Bull and the aggressive approach is rain forecast both for Friday and Saturday which should make for a green track on Sunday which could see the Supersoft offer a lot of extra grip but may also see high degradation, meaning any dry running before race day will be extremely important.
The full list of tyre choices can be seen below:
| Driver | Medium | Soft | Super-Soft |
| Lewis Hamilton | 1 | 5 | 7 |
| Valtteri Bottas | 2 | 4 | 7 |
| Daniel Ricciardo | 1 | 3 | 9 |
| Max Verstappen | 1 | 3 | 9 |
| Sebastian Vettel | 1 | 5 | 7 |
| Kimi Raikkonen | 2 | 4 | 7 |
| Sergio Perez | 3 | 3 | 7 |
| Esteban Ocon | 3 | 3 | 7 |
| Lance Stroll | 1 | 4 | 8 |
| Felipe Massa | 1 | 4 | 8 |
| Stoffel Vandoorne | 1 | 2 | 10 |
| Fernando Alonso | 1 | 2 | 10 |
| Daniil Kvyat | 1 | 3 | 9 |
| Carlos Sainz | 1 | 3 | 9 |
| Romain Grosjean | 2 | 4 | 7 |
| Kevin Magnussen | 1 | 5 | 7 |
| Nico Hulkenberg | 1 | 3 | 9 |
| Jolyon Palmer | 1 | 3 | 9 |
| Marcus Ericsson | 1 | 3 | 9 |
| Pascal Wehrlein | 1 | 3 | 9 |
