when was the hyper soft compound taken out of f1

Lussy04

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24-01-2025

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The Demise of the Hypersoft: When Did F1 Retire its Softest Compound?

The hypersoft tire, the pink-hued pinnacle of Formula 1's tire softness, holds a special place in the hearts (and minds) of F1 fans. Known for its incredibly rapid degradation and the thrilling, often chaotic races it produced, many wonder: when did this extreme compound disappear from the grid? The answer isn't a single date, but rather a gradual phasing out.

Understanding F1's Tire Strategy

Before diving into the hypersoft's exit, it's crucial to understand how Pirelli, F1's tire supplier, approaches its compound choices. The selection isn't static; it varies from race to race depending on track characteristics, expected weather conditions, and the desired level of strategic complexity. Pirelli uses a tiered system ranging from the hardest (C1) to the softest (previously C5, now often varying). The hypersoft, initially the softest, was a temporary addition to this strategy.

The Hypersoft's Reign (and its Fall)

Introduced in 2018, the hypersoft (C5) quickly became a fan favorite. Its rapid wear created exciting races with frequent pit stops and unpredictable strategies. However, this very characteristic also contributed to its eventual demise. Teams often found it difficult to manage its degradation, leading to inconsistent performance and increased tire-related incidents.

The hypersoft wasn't removed in a single, dramatic event. Instead, its usage gradually decreased throughout the 2019 and 2020 seasons. Pirelli opted for a more balanced approach, focusing on compounds offering a better trade-off between performance and longevity. While the hypersoft might have appeared at a few races early in 2019, by the end of 2020, it had largely vanished from F1's tire selection. The softest compound then shifted to C5, a compound still softer than the previous “supersoft,” but with improved durability.

Why the Change?

Several factors influenced Pirelli's decision:

• Increased Tire Degradation: The extremely rapid degradation of the hypersoft often led to unpredictable races, sometimes dominated by tire management rather than driving skill. This impacted race strategy and sometimes resulted in safety concerns.
• Sustainability Concerns: The hypersoft's high wear rate translated to increased tire consumption, raising environmental sustainability concerns.
• Focus on Balanced Performance: Pirelli aimed for a more balanced tire performance across compounds, preventing extreme differences in pace and encouraging more strategic variety.

The Legacy of the Hypersoft

While gone, the hypersoft remains a memorable part of F1 history. It provided some incredibly exciting races, pushing teams and drivers to the limit of their strategic and driving abilities. Its removal paved the way for a more consistent and arguably more predictable, but not necessarily less exciting, tire strategy in the present era.

In short, there's no single "when" to answer the question of the hypersoft's removal. Its decline was a gradual process driven by performance, safety, and sustainability considerations, concluding around the end of the 2020 Formula 1 season. The pink tires might be gone, but the memories of the action they created certainly remain.