P1racenews AI automatic summary:
McLaren has made an outlier tyre choice for the Formula 1 title decider in Abu Dhabi that it hopes will help it head off a major threat in its bid to beat Max Verstappen
McLaren has chosen an unusual tyre strategy for the Formula 1 title decider in Abu Dhabi to combat a potential threat from Max Verstappen. The low-grip surface causing front tyre graining raises concerns for McLaren, as Lando Norris has previously highlighted this issue as his “worst nightmare.” The team must navigate the uncertainty of track conditions impacting tyre degradation in the race. McLaren opted to keep two sets of new hard tyres alongside fresh mediums, aiming to mitigate the dangers of front tyre graining and degradation. The team’s strategy revolves around maximizing tyre preservation and exploring strategic opportunities. Despite hopes for track evolution minimizing graining risks, McLaren remains cautious due to previous experiences this season. Andrea Stella, McLaren’s team boss, emphasized the importance of safeguarding against tyre graining for a potentially pivotal race strategy.
