Pirelli is hoping to inject some excitement into this weekend's Russian Grand Prix by bringing the two softest compounds in its tyre range to Sochi.
Drivers easily pulled off a one-stop strategy at Sochi last year, leading to a fairly dull race won with ease by Lewis Hamilton. This year, however, teams should experience more tyre degradation on the soft and super-soft compounds and Pirelli motorsport boss Paul Hembery is hoping for at least a two-stop race.
"There were a number of question marks that we faced coming to the Sochi circuit for the first time last year - as is inevitably the case with any new circuit - but we have since been able to collect extra data that means we have more information for 2015," Hembery said. "As a result, we have gone a step softer with the tyre nomination this year to help us get back into the two to three pit stop window, which is what we desire for every race.
"However, both ourselves and all the teams are learning more about this circuit all the time, despite the advancement of simulation technology. The track has quite a wide variety of different corners, so it makes for a good all-round test for the tyres, with the drivers able to benefit from the extra speed of the supersoft this year."
Mercedes technical boss Paddy Lowe said the track surface is unlike any other the Formula One races on.
"This was a tricky weekend last season, with a new circuit to learn and fresh tarmac which produced slightly unusual behaviour from the tyres. This year we have moved one step softer on the compounds to bring the soft and supersoft into play - perhaps influenced by Nico running almost the entire race last year on a single set of tyres. One year on, the track surface will have weathered differently so we must ensure we have all eventualities covered."
Sauber's head of track engineering, Giampaolo Dall'Ara, added: "The circuit in Sochi, which was new to the calendar one year ago, is regarded in our team as one of the kindest on the tyres due to its special surface, the absence of very high speed corners and the cool ambient temperatures.
"On this basis, Pirelli has chosen the soft and supersoft compounds, as opposed to the medium and soft that were used one year ago: it will be interesting to reassess what that means for the car's set-up and race strategy."