Since 2019, MegaRide and TRIDENT Motorsport have developed a shared simulation environment for race preparation in FIA Formula 2 and Formula 3. MegaRide’s RIDEsuite tire models reproduce thermal behaviour, grip and wear, allowing drivers and the technical team to assess tire response and the effects of setup changes before heading out on track.
Target tire pressures are defined for each circuit according to its layout, surface roughness and track temperature. Target tire temperatures are established by analysing how the compound responds to different excitation frequencies at the tire-road contact. These frequencies depend on surface roughness and local sliding velocity, which varies with circuit layout and vehicle dynamics.
MegaRide’s models use these pressure and temperature targets to evaluate warm-up procedures. Predicting how tire conditions evolve during the warmup helps identify the preparation strategy best suited to achieving the required temperatures and pressures during the flying lap.
Camber analysis examines how changes in wheel inclination affect tire-road contact, helping the team compare setup options and identify the settings that maximise grip under the expected operating conditions. The models also account for tire ageing, assessing how compound properties change over time and how these changes affect the tire’s ability to generate grip.
MegaRide and TRIDENT jointly define test programmes to assess tire operating conditions on track. MegaRide analyses the data collected during testing and racing, using these insights together with simulation results to guide car setup, tire management and the development of qualifying and race strategies.
At Budapest, with track temperatures around 50°C, MegaRide analysed whether the soft tires could maintain their performance over the full race distance. The analysis indicated that they would degrade too quickly, supporting TRIDENT’s decision to use the hard compound. This choice helped the driver maintain competitive pace throughout the race and finish in first place, while several rivals on soft tires struggled with degradation.
This work is made possible by a simulation infrastructure built jointly through years of technical collaboration. Its development draws on the team’s experience on track and the knowledge gained together over successive seasons. This continued exchange has contributed to TRIDENT’s FIA Formula 3 Teams’ title in 2021 and three consecutive Drivers’ titles in 2023, 2024 and 2025.