Pirelli and FIA aiming to prevent repeat last year’s F1 Qatar GP

Pirelli and FIA aiming to prevent repeat last year’s F1 Qatar GP

27th November 2024 0 By Kamron Kent

Pirelli and the FIA are aiming to ensure last year’s edition of the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix is not repeated this season after the three-stop mandate. 

Feature image credit: Red Bull Content Pool

Last year, when Red Bull’s Max Verstappen claimed his third world championship, the FIA imposed a maximum 18-lap stint on the teams and drivers for the Grand Prix. This forced the teams to complete a mandatory three-stop race. 

The concern came around after Pirelli’s engineers pointed out the possibility of micro-lacerations in the sidewalls, between the tread compound and carcass cords. These were a result of impacts from some kerbs at some corners on the Lusail Circuit. 

The track has now undergone some changes which have supported the Qatar 1812km race in the World Endurance Championship, earlier this season. 

As such, the ‘pyramid-shaped’ kerbs which caused concern have now had their tips rounded off at seven of 16 corners in the Qatari circuit. These corners which have undergone changes are the first two corners, turns four and 10 and those at T12, T13 and T14. 

Since the changes have been made, Pirelli has reportedly carried out ‘extensive and lengthy’ tests on dynamic test beds, using a sample of the new kerbs supplied by the FIA. They had also analysed tyres from some of the F1 teams which ran pre-2024 cars recently at Lusail. 

The tyre manufacturer noted that the FIA has ensured a gravel trap will be placed at some corners which will deter the drivers from overstepping to put in faster lap times. 

Despite the new track changes, Pirelli warned that the high temperatures could still play a part in the Grand Prix. Last year, many drivers suffered problems in the heat last season including Williams’s ex-driver Logan Sargeant who had to retire.

The sole tyre provider has warned that graining will remain a problem this weekend as it was last weekend in Las Vegas, albeit for a different reason. Last weekend’s graining was a result of the cold and lack of grip causing the tyres to slide on the track. 

However, this weekend, Pirelli believes the tyres could be affected by ‘significant thermal degradation’ which could play a major role in tyre strategy in the Grand Prix. 

This weekend’s action, the last fortnight of the F1 2024 season, will resume at 4:30pm (local time) for the opening – and sole – practice session with the Qatar GP being the last sprint weekend of the season.

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Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

CategoryFormula 1 Formula Series News
TagsF1 FIA Formula 1 Pirelli Qatar GP Qatar Grand Prix

About the author

Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

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