Pirelli reveals F1 driver tyre picks for Australian GP

Pirelli has confirmed the tyre selections made by Formula 1 drivers for the 2019 Australian Grand Prix. 

The majority of the grid, including the leading trio of Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull have each selected nine sets of Pirelli’s softest available compound for the season-opener – the red-marked C4 softs. 

In-line with Pirelli’s new tyre coding system for the upcoming campaign, the C4 tyre acts as the second-softest of the five compounds in its 2019 range.

Mercedes teammates Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas have made identical selections, each picking one set of hards, three mediums and nine softs, with Ferrari’s drivers varying slightly. 

Sebastian Vettel will have an extra set of medium tyres compared to Ferrari newcomer Charles Leclerc, who instead has favoured the hard compound. 

New Red Bull teammates Max Verstappen and Pierre Gasly have also mirrored their compound choices, each picking one set of hards, three mediums and nine sets of softs. 

Renault have opted for the most aggressive selections, with Daniel Ricciardo and Nico Hulkenberg both having 10 sets of the soft tyres available to use in Melbourne. 

In contrast, Racing Point and Williams have selected the fewest amount of softs for the Australian GP, with both teams going for just eight sets. 

Here’s the first #Fit4F1 order of the season! #AusGP https://t.co/50FtRpzepq pic.twitter.com/NR8Fm5Gaeq

— Pirelli Motorsport (@pirellisport) March 5, 2019