2023 Qatar Grand Prix - Lusail, Oct 06 - 08

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I'm guessing they'll use a used soft for the 10min practice. Or an extra set could be assigned by Pirelli, but not sure if an extra 20 set of softs would be at the track ready?

[hollus]

This is much better than Bernie's random sprinklers.

- New unknown asphalt
- New kerbs
- Sandstorms
- VAR for deleting lap times in Q3-Q2-Q1
- One single practice session at sunset, race at night
- Changing times for sessions
- Qualifying decided starting tires for a race that changes tire rules after qualifying
- A "sprint" that will use a different layout to the practice session and eat race tires... while the rules for tires in the race are still unknown.

- They are still on time to decide to change the number of laps.. preferably during the race, I guess.

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I'm guessing they'll use a used soft for the 10min practice

maybe, yeah.

Can't see how a mandatory three-stopper is necessary for a 57 lap race, though, when tyre life is supposed to be 20 laps.

[hollus]

... result in Max being crowned on Saturday

That would be a first time, I believe?

Apparently not:
https://www.racefans.net/2023/10/04/cha ... the-title/
I saw that race on TV, so I should have remember that, but I diddn't

The pair largely had the title fight to themselves that year in their dominant Williams-Hondas.

Piquet ... went into the penultimate round, the Japanese Grand Prix, with a championship lead of 12 points over Mansell.

It was an all-Williams fight for the title going into the first qualifying session on Friday. Trying to wrest the fastest time from Piquet, Mansell crashed heavily, injuring his back and was ruled out of participating in the rest of the weekend. Piquet therefore won the title as his only remaining rival was flown by helicopter to hospital.

If Friday is not good enough for you, technically the championship was won as Mansell DNQ on Saturday.

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I'm guessing they'll use a used soft for the 10min practice

maybe, yeah.

Can't see how a mandatory three-stopper is necessary for a 57 lap race, though, when tyre life is supposed to be 20 laps.

Maybe 20 laps is what they say for the hard tyres, but medium/softs might not last that long? As different compounds will have different characteristics (although primarily it's down to construction ofc)

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yeah, but it seems like all tyres are still allowed for the sprint? That would probably be used mediums from SQ1/SQ2 for most, and thereby exceeding the limit anyway, with more than one hot lap likely in the shootout

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Track limits have already been repainted

[AR3-GP]

farce.

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[DGP123]

What an embarrassing job by F1, Qatar circuit and pirelli.

Nothing new. LM only want to chase the money, and visit tracks and street circuits not fit for purpose. These weekends are all about mixing the show up, and to try and achieve unpredictable results. Thought the cars looked very cumbersome and slow round here, this will only make it worse.

[chrisc90]

[chrisc90]

Do teams have to run mediums for SQ1/2??

[AR3-GP]

I'm guessing they'll use a used soft for the 10min practice

maybe, yeah.

Can't see how a mandatory three-stopper is necessary for a 57 lap race, though, when tyre life is supposed to be 20 laps.

No one will pit under safety car perhaps...

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Do teams have to run mediums for SQ1/2??

that's what the rules say, yeah. A new set each, and not more than one.

SQ3 should be "interesting" as well now with the new track limits, as they more or less only have one shot to immediately get it right on softs.

[chrisc90]

So for everyone except red bull there will be only 1 ‘new’ set of mediums for the race.

9/10 teams will have 1 new and a medium with SQ1/2 laps on.

Which will put them OVER the 20-22 lap limit including out/in laps.

So some teams could need a 4 stopper?