(Motorsports news) Following the 19-lap Saturday sprint race that crowned triple champion Max Verstappen, the FIA conducted additional investigation to determine whether the GP should impose three-stop tactics for teams. Only 12 circuits of the sprint race were completed at racing speed due to three safety car delays. This was insufficient to add significantly to Pirelli’s past findings.
Pirelli examined the tyres after FP1 on Friday and discovered a minuscule gap in the sidewall between the topping compound and the carcass cords. This was caused by drivers running over the Losail circuit’s new-for-2023 ‘pyramid’ kerbs, which include a 50mm border that was creating substantial collisions as the tyres dropped over the edge.
The FIA announced the results of Pirelli’s overnight inquiry during a Sunday afternoon meeting with F1 team managers. As a result, the governing body has enforced a maximum stint length of 18 circuits for new tyres. “Due to the frequency of Safety Car interventions in yesterday’s Sprint, the tyre data available for analysis by Pirelli was insufficient to add to that already undertaken following previous track sessions,” according to an FIA statement.
“In some cases, Sprint tyres showed the initial onset of the separation in the sidewall between the topping compound and the carcass cords of the tyres. As a result, the FIA and Pirelli have determined, and after consulting with the teams, that the following safety measures will be taken for today’s Qatar Grand Prix: A strict limit of 18 laps of overall tyre life per set will be imposed, with the life of previously used tyres taken into account.
“The FIA and Pirelli will communicate to the teams the remaining available laps for each set of used tyres at their disposal for the race and the criteria used to calculate that number.” Any driver who exceeds the 18-lap stint length will be reported to the stewards as running under unsafe conditions and will be disqualified.
This is a reduction from the original 20-lap limit announced on Saturday morning, and it effectively guarantees that teams would be forced to complete three-stop strategy for the 57-lap race. While the previous 20-lap cycle allowed the race to be completed with only two tyre changes, the planned change to three pitstops was designed to prevent vehicles from pitting at the same time.
The painted white line indicating track limits has been moved in by 80cm at Turns 12 and 13 to keep drivers away from the elevated kerb edges and maintain the tyres. Before the sprint race, a 10-minute acclimatization session was introduced, during which Charles Leclerc and Lance Stroll were given five-second penalties for four track rules violations each.
Also read: Only three teams bring F1 upgrades to Qatar as sprint race format bites
