The WEC Hypercar frontrunners who led the way in qualifying on Saturday made the claim in the knowledge that track temperatures will hit in excess of 50C over the course of the Monza 6 Hours and that they will have to undertake double stints on a set of Michelins over the course of the race.
Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe technical director Pascal Vasselon said: “The track temperature should be between 50 and 55C, and we know we have to do double stints and the second stint [on the tyre] will probably be race deciding.”
Ferrari has admitted concerns over the level of degradation that could occur in the race.
Giuliano Salvi, Ferrari’s sportscar race and test team manager, said: “I am a bit worried for the race, for the deg and for the management of track temperatures.
“We will face extreme conditions and we will need to manage the tyres really well.
“It will be quite a lot in the hands of the drivers: how you manage [the tyres] in the corners will be crucial to how you can extend your stint.”
Each car in the Hypercar class has 18 tyres available to it for qualifying and the race.
Hypercar supplier Michelin has brought the hard and medium compound tyres to Monza.
Source: Autosport