Pirelli have announced their tyre choices for the forthcoming grands prix in Japan and Russia.

The Italian manufacturer will take the two hardest compounds in their range – the white-marked medium and orange-banded hard – to Suzuka to deal with “high speeds, high abrasion and fast corners” such as 130R.

Pirelli added that the venue “is one of the most demanding tracks of the year in terms of lateral energy".

The Japanese GP is followed by the inaugural race in Sochi where the mediums and yellow-marked soft tyres will be used.

“The choice for the brand-new Sochi circuit in Russia is much more complex, as there has not yet been any representative running on the track,” the Pirelli statement read.

“However, using simulation data, Pirelli engineers have calculated that the most suitable choice should be P Zero White medium and P Zero Yellow soft, a combination that is capable of covering a wide range of conditions.”