FIA mandates tyre limits, three pit stops for Qatar Grand Prix after safety concerns
The FIA will mandate tyre limits and effectively force teams into a three-stop strategy for the Formula One Qatar Grand Prix after issues were detected in tyres used on Friday.
The FIA will mandate tyre limits and effectively force teams into a three-stop strategy for the Qatar Grand Prix. (Pirelli)
The change was foreshadowed by the FIA and tyre manufacturer Pirelli after the sprint race, with further investigation underway overnight on Saturday.
In a new statement, the FIA says that tyre data from the sprint race was insufficient to add to the analysis, with some tyres from the sprint showing “separation in the sidewall between the topping compound and the carcass cords of the tyres.”
The damage is thought to be due to wear on the kerbs used on the circuit, despite the same kerbing causing issues during the inaugural race in 2021.
“As was the case in Free Practice 1, this issue has likely been caused by the high-frequency interference between the tyre sidewall and the 50mm ‘pyramid’ kerbs used extensively at this circuit, aggravated by the propensity to ride those kerbs.”
After consultation with teams, the FIA will mandate a maximum 18-lap stint for new tyres, with used tyres to have a reduced life, noting that “there is no direct mandate for at least three tyre-change pitstops during the race, however this will be a consequence of the above guidelines should the race run its entire race distance.”
Pirelli director of motorsport Mario Isola at a media briefing on Saturday. (Pirelli)
The 2023 Qatar Grand Prix will be contested over 57 laps of the 5.418 kilometre Lusail International Circuit, which will force teams to develop strategies an average stint length of 14.25 laps across the four tyres used.
A document circulated to teams explains that “laps to the grid, formation laps and laps following the chequered flag for the sprint and race will not be counted.”
“For the used sets effective number of laps considered from previous sessions will be the total amount, reduced by 2 laps. For the sake of clarity a document with remaining laps available for each set will be distributed to the teams.”
The situation has drawn comparisons to the 2005 U.S. Grand Prix in Indianapolis, where only six cars started after teams using Michelin tyres were unable to compete on the steep banking and rough surface.
Strategy will be complicated by teams having already run one set from each compound during the sprint shootout on Saturday.
From the sprint race, which was interrupted by multiple safety car periods, teams know that a medium tyre will complete a 18-lap stint, while a soft tyre is only usable for around 10 laps before a severe drop in performance.
Tyre sets available for each driver in the Qatar Grand Prix - click to expand. (Pirelli)
Polesitter Max Verstappen has just one set of new hard tyres, one set of new mediums, two sets of used mediums, and six sets of used softs available for the grand prix. With the assumption that he will run both new sets for a total of 36 laps, it leaves 21 laps to be completed with either a used medium and used soft, or two stints on the same compound.
The question for teams will be just how old their used tyres are, with more than half of the field having a similar allocation remaining.
It may also cause identical strategies throughout the field as teams all seek to get the full 18 laps from their initial sets of unused tyres, pitting on laps 18 and 36 into the second and third stints.
The Formula One Qatar Grand Prix is underway at 4am Monday (AEDT).
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