Pretty much this. It allows for more suspension set up leeway because softer tyres mean more shock absorption. Lower pressures reduce tyre heating (marginally) meaning that they can be driven harder without overheating, they also reduce wear because the tyre is not "stood up" with a central patch doing the work. Basically lower pressure better. The downsides are without tyre pressure holding them up the sidewalls have to bear more of the brunt leading to failures there and it increases fuel consumption which is obviously big in a fuel limited formula.
Having the right temperature in the tyres is obviously preferable but now some have started cooling (or at least stopping heating earlier) to get the benefits of lower pressures.
RedBull only seemed to be doing it only on the fronts from what I saw so could be a balance thing where they want the front pressures lower and so greater grip, less heating, more compliant suspension.
Will be interesting for the next few races to see if these tyre directives and the new wing testing regime will noticably hurt redbull or not. I'm really hoping for the sake of the eason that they won't since this is the best season in a long while so far.
In other news Ocon signed a 3 year deal with Alpine.
I don't really know what to make of Ocon, he's not exploded into the spotlight like Norris, Russell, Leclerc but he's driving solidly and is beating Alonso (albeit it an alonso still getting to grips with the car after a period out). He drove well for Force India (including keeping Perez honest, admittedly with too many incidents between them) too until he had to make way for Stroll.
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