Pirelli announces compound choices and mandatory sets for Spain

Pirelli will bring the following three compounds to the fifth round of the 2016 Formula One season in Spain, to be held (May 12-15) on the Montmelò north of Barcelona:

— P Zero Orange hard
— P Zero White medium
— P Zero Yellow soft

These are the tyres that Pirelli has said must be used at some point in the race:

— One set of P Zero Orange hard
— One set of P Zero White medium.

Each driver must have both these sets available for the race, and must use at least one of them.

There are the tyres assigned for Q3 in qualifying:

— One set of P Zero Yellow soft

Following the regulations, each driver must save for Q3 one set of the softest of the three nominated compounds. This set will be given back to Pirelli after Q3 for those who qualify in the top 8, but the remaining drivers will keep it for the race – as is the case currently.

The teams are free to choose the remaining sets; making up 13 sets in total for the weekend.

NB: The new 2016 tyre regulations mean that tyre nomination for long-haul events have to be made 14 weeks in advance, whereas for European races the deadline is eight weeks in advance.