The FIA has announced that major changes could be made to the Qatar Grand Prix after extensive analysis and testing left drivers worried.
The FIA has announced that all drivers, including Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, could be forced to stop at least three times in Sunday’s Qatar Grand Prix due to tire wear issues. An additional 10-minute “hands-on familiarization” period was added before Saturday’s Sprint Shootout because tire life limits were imposed.
Analysis of Friday’s free practice session led governing body the FIA to say it could implement a rule forcing all drivers to stop a minimum of three times to change tyres.
Pirelli noticed tire damage after qualifying and imposed a limit of 20 laps on new tires used in races and 22 laps on used tires, while track limits were revised in turns 12 and 13.
An FIA statement said Pirelli noticed “sidewall separation” when inspecting the tire after testing. “Following the standard analysis of tyres used during Free Practice 1 yesterday, in which tyres that have been used for approximately 20 laps are examined by Pirelli to check various safety parameters, a separation in the sidewall between the topping compound and the carcass cords on many of tyres that were checked was discovered,” the statement read.
“It is the view of the FIA and Pirelli that a significant number of additional laps on these tyres could result in circumferential damage of the tyres with subsequent air loss, and tyres analysed with lower lap numbers showed a much-reduced extent of the issue.
“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.”
More tyre analysis will be made during Saturday’s sprint race that will determine whether further changes could be made for Sunday’s Grand Prix, which could cause chaos as it is a rare step that the sport has taken – teams and drivers are not used to such restrictions.
Verstappen secured pole position yesterday after a chaotic qualifying session, as he looks to take a third consecutive world championship as part of a dominant season for Red Bull.
The two Mercedes in Hamilton and George Russell followed him, after McLaren stars Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were among those punished for exceeding track limits, but late changes could see more chaos and confusion than usual in the desert this weekend.
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