Pirelli reveal rainbow of tyres for 2018

11/23/17 • 1 min

Ahead of the final race of 2017 in Abu Dhabi, Pirelli launched their lineup of tyres for the 2018 season, including two new compounds and extending the range from five to seven levels of hard and softness. The tyres are all one step softer than what we've seen this year, but there's a new superhard tyre that is orange. The hard tyre turns blue, or ice blue, as they call it.

Then come four compounds that we are very familiar with: white mediums, yellow softs, red supersofts and purple ultrasofts. Finally, there's a new pink compound called hypersoft - which was chosen by fans polled by the Italian manufacturer.

Pirelli boss Mario Isola says: "We realised that, under the unique circumstances of this year, some of our 2017 compounds were perhaps conservative: the tyres we have created for 2018 address this, in line with the objective of having around two pit stops at most races."

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Toro Rosso confirm Hartley and Gasly for full 2018 season

After testing out a rotating selection of drivers for the past few race weekends, Toro Rosso have hit upon a pairing they like - the current form of Brendon Hartley and Pierre Gasly. The duo have been signed for 2018, with both set for their first full season in the sport.

Team principal Franz Tost said: "During this last part of the year they've shown that they're ready for Formula 1, getting to grips with the car quickly, showing good performances and always demonstrating to be prepared for the challenge. We have been truly impressed by both their steep learning curves."

Gasly added thanks to his friends, family and supporters and said: "I'm really excited and super motivated to give it my all in Abu Dhabi and the whole of next year! I just can't wait!" And Hartley was still processing the information: "It's amazing. It's very satisfying to have converted an opportunity that came as a surprise into a 2018 F1 drive, I couldn't be happier!"

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Bottas scoops pole position for final round of 2017

Valtteri Bottas was the fastest driver in Q3 on Saturday in Abu Dhabi, with the Finnish driver securing pole position for the final race of the season. Lewis Hamilton was just a tenth of a second behind him, leaving the Red Bull and Ferrari drivers to split the second and third row of the grids between them.

Nico Hülkenberg, both Force India drivers and Felipe Massa rounded out the top ten. Fernando Alonso just missed the cut for the top ten shoot-out and had to settle for 11th place. Further back, both the Toro Rosso drivers struggled for pace and dropped out in Q1, with Brendon Hartley the slowest driver in the field. He had an engine penalty lined up anyway, though.

The poor qualifying result puts the pressure on Toro Rosso, however, in one of the only championship battles left - unless they get a good result in the race, they'll drop behind Renault and lose their sixth place in the standings.

See more on Bottas scoops pole position for final round of 2017