(L to R): Eric Boullier (FRA) McLaren Racing Director, Paul Hembery (GBR) Pirelli Motorsport Director and Mario Isola (ITA) Pirelli Sporting Director on the grid. Formula One World Championship, Rd3, Bahrain Grand Prix, Race, Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain, Sunday, 6 April 2014. © Sutton Images
Formula One racing’s official tyre suppliers will bring their hardest two compounds for the fifth round of 2014, held on the high-energy Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on May 9-11.
Pirelli will then provide their red-marked supersoft compound for the first time in Monaco, alongside the yellow-marked soft compound. The same allocation will also be provided two weeks later in Canada.
The Italian tyre company said the allocations reflected the respective track characteristics, with much lighter tyre wear expected in Monaco and Canada - both of which rely heavily on mechanical grip - compared to the abrasive surface in Spain.
At a glance - tyre compounds for 2014:
Australia - medium, soft
Malaysia - hard, medium
Bahrain - medium, soft
China - medium, soft
Spain - medium, hard
Monaco - supersoft, soft
Canada - supersoft, soft