I started a career in f2 and noticed for the sprint races the ai all started on softer compound tyres instead of hard compound like they would usually do in real life. Happens in Grand Prix mode also...
Ideas
Not only that. They magically get a new set of softs for the feature race too. If you ask the engineer "driver front/behind" he'll say that they are on fresh tyres after boxing.
They get a fresh set if there's a red flag in the sprint race too.