Red Bull plays it safe on tires in Japan

Tactical approaches to tire strategies for the Japanese Grand Prix (October 8-9) will differ between the leading teams. In the clan Mercedes, Rosberg and Hamilton made a fairly close selection, the nuance being found on the side of the medium and hard tires, with three sets of the most resistant rubbers for the Briton, against two for the German, and vice versa concerning the medium rubbers. Both teammates will benefit from eight sets of soft tires.

At Ferrari, the aggressiveness card seems to have been played. If Hag and Räikkönen did not make the same choice regarding the medium and hard tires, the two residents of the Team have opted for nine sets of soft tires, the largest total on the grid.

Conversely at Red Bull Racing, Max Verstappen et Daniel Ricciardo, both on an identical selection, will be the most conservative on the field with four sets of hard tires, three of mediums, and six of softs. You have to look at Manor to find a strategy almost as conservative.