Wet Weather Strategy:
Inters vs Wets
Rain is the great equalizer. It throws the strategy book out the window and forces teams to make split-second decisions.
The Tyres
When it rains, the slick tyres (Soft/Medium/Hard) are useless. They have no grooves to clear water, so they aquaplane instantly. Teams must switch to:
Intermediates
The "Green" Tyre
For damp tracks or light rain. No standing water.
- Grooves: Lightly grooved.
- Capacity: Clears ~30 litres of water per second.
- Usage: The most common rain tyre.
Full Wets
The "Blue" Tyre
For heavy rain and standing water (puddles).
- Grooves: Deep, aggressive blocks.
- Capacity: Clears ~85 litres of water per second.
- Usage: Only used in extreme conditions (monsoons).
Why Full Wets Are Rarely Used
You might think that in heavy rain, teams would rush to put on the Full Wet (Blue) tyres. In reality, they avoid them at all costs.
The Problem is Visibility, not Grip.
The Full Wet tyre is incredibly effective at clearing water (85 litres per second). But where does that water go? It gets thrown into the air, creating a massive wall of spray behind the car.
The Paradox: If it's wet enough to need the grip of the Full Wet tyre, the spray is usually so bad that the Race Director will Red Flag (stop) the race because drivers can't see. If the visibility is good enough to race, the track is usually dry enough for Intermediates.
The "Crossover Point"
This is the magic moment that decides the race.
The Crossover Point is the specific lap time where one tyre becomes faster than the other.
Example Scenario
The track is drying up. Everyone is on Intermediates.
- Lap 20: Intermediates are doing a 1:30.0. Slicks would do a 1:35.0 (too slippery).
- Lap 25: Intermediates are doing a 1:28.0. Slicks would do a 1:28.0. (Crossover Reached)
- Lap 26: Slicks are now faster (1:26.0).
The Strategy: You must pit EXACTLY at the crossover point.
Pit too early? You slide off the track. Pit too late? You lose 2-3 seconds per lap to the drivers who pitted.
No Pit Stops Required
In a dry race, drivers must use at least two different compounds (e.g., Start on Soft, finish on Medium).
Rule Exception: If the Race Director declares a "Wet Race" (meaning the track is wet), this rule is cancelled. Drivers can run the entire race on one set of tyres if they want (though the tyres usually wear out before then).