Kobayashi : Tyres depend on the situation

Sauber’s Kamui Kobayashi says situation determines tyre wear as much as driving style.

Speaking in Thursday’s FIA press conference the Japanese driver was asked about team-mate Sergio Pérez’s rare ability to eke life out of his tyres. Kobayashi answered by saying that often comes down to the situation in the race as much as it does the track profile or the style of driving.

“I think in the last race Sergio did a really great job with the tyre management – but I think this season so far, it’s very important to be [in] clear air. If we are in traffic we damage the tyre of course. It’s not only the tyre management, we have to be clear. It’s not only the driving, it’s the situation as well. It’s difficult to say that it’s coming only from the tyre and the driving, it’s all a mixture.

“Let’s say Sergio last race had great driving but he also had quite a lot of time with not so much traffic and that’s the key to managing the tyre. Also last race I think everybody expected in the race to do two-stop but actually one-stop is quicker. But at the same time it seems to be difficult to overtake again because everybody is like a train. So that was mis-predicted for the last race. For my situation I had to change strategy during the race, which is quite difficult. But I think the team did a great job for the performance and they gave us really great advice and we see a good step from the car.”

Kobayashi also predicted the Valencia Street Circuit would suit his team this weekend – but the heat being experienced in Spain were an unknown for everyone. “Here I think pretty OK. Only we have to focus on working the tyre with this track temperature because this is extremely high. I think the car itself is OK for this track but difficult to say how it will perform on the track in this temperature.”