Ferrari’s tyre-pressure choice worsened wear in Brazil, expert says

Ferrari set the pressure of its first tyre set above the ideal level during the Brazilian Grand Prix to warm the tyres faster, according to Paolo Filisetti, a technical expert at RacingNews365. It was a deliberate choice, not a mistake, he says. The higher internal pressure reduced the tyre’s contact patch with the asphalt; tread temperature then rose gradually, worsening tyre wear.

Rain sharply reduced grip and forced teams onto intermediate tyres, while low temperatures also harmed the tyres’ optimal working window, Filisetti says.

Filisetti also describes broader setup compromises in the SF-26. Ferrari chose relatively little downforce to offset the car’s high drag. He says the configuration was poorly suited to Interlagos’ twisty middle sector: the car understeered there and its rear was particularly nervous.

Filisetti says the lower downforce, combined with a ride height slightly higher than in dry conditions, led to significantly more tyre wear. He says the SF-26’s design was not itself flawed: its aerodynamic strengths and chassis could only partly offset the power unit’s shortfall. That deficit forced Ferrari to compromise vehicle dynamics, especially optimal tyre use, he argues. He adds that Hamilton’s own choices, which he says differed from pit-wall instructions, also have to be considered.