Horner: Decision was Made Independently
Hisao Suganuma, Technical Manager: "The Hockenheim circuit is one of the most difficult tracks for tyres. One of the reasons for this is the high temperatures normally experienced at this time of year. If sunny, we need to be prepared for track temperatures of over 50 degrees Celcius which can accelerate tyre wear rates. So from that point of view, our tyres need to have good wear resistance to cope with qualifying and the full race distance
"The track surface, however, is relatively smooth which means we would normally require tyres with compounds from the softer end of the range so we need to choose our compounds carefully. We have also needed to take into account the nature of the track layout. Since modified, Hockenheim is no longer as fast as it used to be but the cars do still reach top speeds as they approach the Parabolica and hairpin bends so good braking and stability are key issues at this circuit.
"This is followed by the low speed infield section of the track where you really need good grip. Last week we tested several new compound developments from our latest family of compounds and as a result of finding promising results, I look forward to seeing some of them in action in Germany this weekend."
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