Pirelli: Sepang FP2 marked by high tyre degradation and extreme track temperatures

Pirelli flagged high thermal degradation and abrasive track conditions at Sepang, noting the Soft performed well and race strategy may need multiple stops.

In this brief: 2 sections 1 min read

- Air temperatures reached 38°C and track temperatures about 54°C.
- Track surface was dusty and abrasive, causing significant thermal degradation and sliding.
- Soft (C4) and Medium (C3) showed similar performance in race runs; Hard not used in FP2.
- Performance drop‑off estimated at 0.2–0.3s per lap with current degradation.
- Pirelli expects Sunday’s race to be shaped by two or more pit stops.
- Teams gathered data on C3/C4 but further analysis needed for final strategy.

Read full analysis on press.pirelli.com

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