New F1 Track in Russia Features Polymer-Fortified Asphalt

One of the notable highlights of last weekend's Formula One race in Sochi, Russia, was the remarkably low tire wear reported by several competitors.

A key contributor appears to be the new track's race surface, whose top layer included a unique polymer-modified asphalt binder. The material, blended by Moscow-based petroleum giant OJSC Rosneft Oil Co., incorporates styrenic block copolymers supplied by U.S.-based Kraton Performance Polymers Inc.

Normally F1 cars chew through three or four sets of tires per race, sometimes wearing them out in as few as 10 laps. But several drivers reported unexpectedly little tire wear during Sunday's inaugural race at Sochi.

The most impressive example came from driver Nico Rosberg, who piloted his Mercedes AMG Petronas car from last place after the first lap to a second-place finish. He covered 52 of the race's 53 laps on the same set of tires, notching several fastest-lap records along the way as he worked his way through the field.

Kraton and Rosneft don't claim their binder formula is responsible for the exceptionally low wear rates. Karton says only that its polymer are blended to resist degradation, making the track surface stronger and more resistant to the rigors of F1 races.