Pirelli has confirmed the same tire selection as last year for the Las Vegas Grand Prix. However, the greater mechanical resistance of the 2025 tires, combined with the decision to move sessions a few hours earlier, should reduce the risk of graining—a development particularly welcomed by McLaren. Let’s explore why.
Three, the perfect number
Three, like the remaining races in this season, and three, like the editions of the Las Vegas Grand Prix that will be recorded in the history books once the weekend is complete. This event is unique, not only because of the track layout but also due to the low temperatures that typically accompany the weekend.
Without the sun to warm the environment, track temperatures drop significantly. In 2024, for example, the asphalt never exceeded 20°C, while the air remained a few degrees colder. This makes tire management particularly challenging for teams, increasing the risk of graining and demanding careful strategy throughout the weekend.
Why tires are so sensitive in Las Vegas
One issue clearly highlighted last season involves the softer compounds, which offer lower mechanical resistance to thermal stress. The first laps are critical for tire management: teams that manage to bring the tires quickly into their optimal operating window gain an immediate advantage by increasing grip levels.
However, if the tires are subjected to excessive stress before reaching the correct temperature window, graining can occur. This damages the tire surface and reduces grip. In Las Vegas, this phenomenon is particularly challenging, not only due to the low temperatures but also because of the track’s unique layout and smooth asphalt surface.
Long straights, low downforce setups, and few high-speed corners drastically reduce the tires’ ability to generate heat in the carcass, while the tire surface experiences constant fluctuations. Finding the right balance becomes crucial, not only in qualifying, where one or two preparation laps are enough, but also throughout the race.
The 2025 tire selection
For the third consecutive year, Pirelli has chosen the C3, C4, and C5 compounds—not the softest options available. Initially, Pirelli considered bringing the C6, which could have offered some advantages in a low-temperature context with minimally rubbered-in asphalt, resulting in limited grip levels.
2025 innovations should reduce graining
However, Pirelli was guided by data collected earlier in the season and the belief that low temperatures could make the C6 overly sensitive to graining, turning it into a too fragile compound. This cautious approach led to the same tire selection as 2024. Nevertheless, this does not mean there are no updates.
Compared to last season, Pirelli has revised the entire range of compounds, increasing their mechanical resistance, including the softer options. Notably, even at historically tricky events prone to graining, no major problems occurred in 2025, surprising even Pirelli itself.
This improvement stems both from the tires’ enhanced mechanical resistance and the progress made by teams, which, after four years of this technical cycle, now have a deeper understanding of tire management. In 2025, the rare graining incidents were linked to exceptional circumstances, such as transitions from wet to dry conditions or the introduction of new asphalt, as seen in China. This doesn’t mean graining will disappear entirely, but it is expected to be less problematic than in 2024.
Why McLaren welcomes the change
One team particularly happy with this scenario is McLaren. A known weakness of the 2024 MCL38 was front tire temperature management, especially under graining conditions, as the car struggled to generate sufficient heat. This difficulty affected performance in several events, from Australia to Monza and Las Vegas.
In Nevada, these challenges were exacerbated by setup issues, particularly when adjusting the wings, which sacrificed too much efficiency. Added to this were compromises intended to contain graining and understeer, which further limited setup options. The data collected last year will be valuable, but will it be enough?
With the MCL39, McLaren has made significant progress on this front, and this year the car has not suffered from graining as much as last season. However, some critical scenarios remain in races where generating front-end heat is difficult, and very tight corners do not allow the front tires to perform optimally. In these conditions, challenges still emerged. Even in China, the gap to the competition was not substantial.
The improved tire construction will certainly help contain the problem, as will the decision to move sessions a couple of hours earlier, although forecasts still predict very low temperatures. But will it be enough? Tracks with long straights, low temperatures, and tight-radius corners do not highlight McLaren’s strengths. Woking believes it has taken a step forward compared to 2024, but whether it will be sufficient remains uncertain. This is set to be one of the most intriguing storylines of the weekend.
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