Tyre preview for the Qatar Grand Prix

Following a brief break after the Japanese Grand Prix, the 2023 F1 season will proceed this weekend with Round 18, the Qatar Grand Prix, at the Lusail International Circuit.

After the coronavirus-induced calendar reshuffle, Formula 1 marked new territory in 2021 when it visited Qatar for the first time, with long-term MotoGP venue Lusail internet hosting the championship. After a break in 2022 for Qatar to host the FIFA World Cup, Formula 1 is about to return to the Gulf island state, and to a renovated and refreshed Lusail. The circuit structure has not been altered since 2021’s debut however the services have been upgraded to fulfill Formula 1’s requirements, with a brand new pits and paddock complicated, revamped environment for elevated spectator capability, whereas the occasion itself turns into a fully-fledged evening race.

For this weekend, Pirelli will convey three compounds from the tougher finish of its tyre vary: C1 will function P Zero White laborious, C2 as P Zero Yellow medium, and C3 as P Zero Red comfortable. This nomination ought to convey no surprises as groups wanted to make use of the similar trio in the earlier race in Japan.

The observe options elongated high-speed and medium-speed corners that put excessive hundreds by means of the tyres. With no assist races this weekend, the observe is not going to be rubbered in from different automobiles. Sand typically represents a difficulty as it’s normally blown over the observe floor which closely impacts grip ranges particularly at the begin of the session. As in Bahrain, the sand makes observe evolution one other key issue, which might be accentuated by the new asphalt.

Moreover, climate situations additionally have to be considered in terms of tyre behaviour. Ambient temperatures are excessive in Qatar right now of 12 months, peaking past 40°C throughout the week main as much as the race. However, the beginning time might be fairly late this weekend which ought to reduce the stress that act on the tyres.

Doha might be an evening race, with qualifying and the grand prix beginning at 20:00 (native time). On Saturday, the Sprint Shootout will begin at 16:00 and the Sprint race itself at 20:30.

When F1 first visited Doha two years in the past, a variety of methods was seen two years in the past. Half the drivers began on Softs with the different half on Mediums, whereas the variety of pit stops diversified from one to a few. Race winner Lewis Hamilton gained with a two-stopper, finishing two preliminary stints on the medium tyre earlier than a last stint on the Hard.

As a precaution, Pirelli has mandated extraordinarily excessive beginning pressures for this weekend. The minimal beginning pressures are 25.0psi for the entrance tyres and 21.5psi. The camber limits are restricted to -2.75° for the fronts and -1.5° for the rears with each the beginning pressures and the camber limits just like the ones mandated in Suzuka.

Pirelli’s Head of Motorsport Mario Isola stated: “Formula 1 now returns to Qatar, two years after its debut there in 2021. But in some ways, it’s one other new starting, as the automobiles at the moment are very completely different to the ones we noticed a few years in the past and the Losail circuit has been utterly resurfaced, with modified kerbs as nicely. On paper, the observe’s fundamental options stay the similar – with a fundamental straight simply over a kilometre lengthy and 16 corners – nevertheless it’s clear that the modifications remodeled the final two years imply that the information collected from the first grand prix is simply comparatively helpful.

“In phrases of severity, Losail is a really difficult circuit for tyres, just like Silverstone and Suzuka. So it’s no coincidence that the compounds chosen are the similar: C1, C2, and C3. There’s fairly quite a lot of corners, most of them medium velocity and excessive velocity. The sequence of corners between Turns 12 and 14 is sort of harking back to the well-known Turn 8 at Istanbul: considered one of the most demanding corners for tyres in the latest historical past of Formula 1. This sequence can also be considered one of the most influential elements to a very good lap time. The undeniable fact that 11 of the 16 corners are right-handers places explicit stress on the left of the automotive, particularly at the entrance, however the power ranges seen going by means of the tyres in 2021 have been nonetheless fairly well-balanced between the two axles.

“Another factor making the Qatar Grand Prix even more challenging for us as well as the drivers and the teams is the return of the Sprint format. Just one hour of free practice will be available on Friday to determine the set-up and assess tyre behaviour over long runs; furthermore that session happens in the heat of the day – which will warm up the asphalt – as opposed to qualifying and the two races, which take place at night. So everything is in place for an interesting weekend as well as perhaps a few surprises; the ability to adapt quickly and well to the track could deliver a significant advantage,” Isola concluded.