Just a number of hours forward of the Qatar Grand Prix, the FIA have introduced that drivers might want to adhere to maximum 18-lap stints on the Qatar Grand Prix following the tyre troubles skilled through the weekend.
Following the opening day on the Qatar Grand Prix on which every part regarded regular, Formula 1’s governing physique the FIA revealed that the game’s sole tyre provider Pirelli found questions of safety with their merchandise on the Lusail monitor.
Following Friday’s observe and qualifying session, the Milan-based tyre provider carried out their typical tyre evaluation, placing deal with the tyres that had been used for about 20 laps. During this course of, Pirelli’s mechanics reduce a number of tyres in items in order to carry out in-deep evaluation and measurements that aren’t potential by solely analyzing the outer floor.
Pirelli discovered damages between the topping compound and the carcass cords. The tyre provider and the FIA suspected that the difficulty has been attributable to the high-frequency interference between the tyre sidewall and the 50mm ‘pyramid’ kerbs used extensively at this circuit, aggravated by the propensity to experience these kerbs.
The governing physique modified the monitor limits at Turns 12, 13 and 13 forward of the Sprint Shootout and scheduled a ten-minute extra session in order to supply drivers with the chance of getting used to the brand new monitor limits.
Following the 19-lap dash race, Pirelli carried out one other evaluation of the tyres that had been used through the 100km sprint. However, the three security automotive interventions meant that the tyres weren’t used at full race velocity for the whole lot of the dash, which means that Pirelli didn’t have sufficient reference in regard to the tyre life.
Pirelli met with the F1 drivers on Sunday, six hours earlier than the race is because of start to debate the late change of guidelines. It has been determined {that a} new set of tyres can be utilized for a maximum size of 18 laps whereas the restrict for used tyres shall be decided by Pirelli and will probably be communicated to the groups earlier than the grand prix.
The FIA has not made the three-stop technique necessary, though the maximum size of stints will make it inevitable that drivers pit thrice through the 57-lap Qatar Grand Prix.
FIA has acknowledged {that a} driver shall be black flagged and disqualified in the event that they exceed an 18-lap stint on a single set of tyres.
ℹ️ There’s a restrict on the variety of laps allowed on a single set of tyres throughout as we speak’s #QatarGP 🇶🇦
Here’s what number of laps drivers have remaining on their used units of tyres pre-race 👇 #Fit4F1 pic.twitter.com/eVAvejJcHA
— Pirelli Motorsport (@pirellisport) October 8, 2023
The assertion from the FIA learn: “Due to the frequency of Safety Car interventions in yesterday’s Sprint, the tyre information accessible for evaluation by Pirelli was inadequate so as to add to that already undertaken following earlier monitor classes.
“In some circumstances, tyres that have been analysed from the Sprint did present the preliminary onset of the separation in the sidewall between the topping compound and the carcass cords of the tyres.
“As was the case in Free Practice 1, this difficulty has seemingly been attributable to the high-frequency interference between the tyre sidewall and the 50mm ‘pyramid’ kerbs used extensively at this circuit, aggravated by the propensity to experience these kerbs.
“As a consequence, it has been determined by the FIA and Pirelli and after session with the groups on security grounds, the next measures shall be applied for as we speak’s Qatar Grand Prix:
A compulsory restrict of 18 laps of whole tyre life per set shall be imposed. The lifetime of already used tyres shall be considered. The FIA and Pirelli will talk to the groups the remaining accessible laps for every set of used tyres at their disposal for the race and the standards used to calculate that quantity.
“There isn’t any direct mandate for at the very least three tyre-change pitstops through the race, nonetheless this shall be a consequence of the above pointers ought to the race run its total race distance.
“Any automotive deemed to have exceeded the tyre life lap restrict shall be reported to the Stewards as being run in an unsafe situation.
“This information will be formally communicated to the teams in the Race Directors’ notes and further updates issued as required.”
