FIA and Pirelli mandate maximum 18-lap stints in Qatar GP

F1 Grand Prix, GP Qatar, Losail International Circuit

Just a few hours ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix, the FIA have announced that drivers will need to adhere to maximum 18-lap stints at the Qatar Grand Prix following the tyre troubles experienced during the weekend.

Following the opening day at the Qatar Grand Prix on which everything looked normal, Formula 1’s governing body the FIA revealed that the sport’s sole tyre supplier Pirelli discovered safety issues with their products at the Lusail track.

Following Friday's practice and qualifying session, the Milan-based tyre supplier carried out their usual tyre analysis, putting focus on the tyres that had been used for approximately 20 laps. During this process, Pirelli’s mechanics cut several tyres in pieces in order to perform in-deep analysis and measurements that are not possible by only examining the outer surface.

Pirelli found damages between the topping compound and the carcass cords. The tyre supplier and the FIA suspected that the issue has 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.

The governing body changed the track limits at Turns 12, 13 and 13 ahead of the Sprint Shootout and scheduled a ten-minute additional session in order to provide drivers with the opportunity of getting used to the new track limits.

Following the 19-lap sprint race, Pirelli performed another analysis of the tyres that had been used during the 100km dash. However, the three safety car interventions meant that the tyres were not used at full race speed for the entirety of the sprint, meaning that Pirelli did not have enough reference in regard to the tyre life.

Pirelli met with the F1 drivers on Sunday, six hours before the race is due to begin to discuss the late change of rules. It has been decided that a new set of tyres can be used for a maximum length of 18 laps while the limit for used tyres will be determined by Pirelli and it will be communicated to the teams before the grand prix.

The FIA has not made the three-stop strategy mandatory, although the maximum length of stints will make it inevitable that drivers pit three times during the 57-lap Qatar Grand Prix.

FIA has stated that a driver will be black flagged and disqualified if they exceed an 18-lap stint on a single set of tyres.

The statement from the FIA read: "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.

"In some cases, tyres that were analysed from the Sprint did show the initial onset of the separation in the sidewall between the topping compound and the carcass cords of the tyres.

"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.

"As a consequence, it has been decided by the FIA and Pirelli and after consultation with the teams on safety grounds, the following measures will be implemented for today’s Qatar Grand Prix:

A mandatory limit of 18 laps of total tyre life per set will be imposed. The life of already used tyres will be taken into consideration. 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.

"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.

"Any car deemed to have exceeded the tyre life lap limit will be reported to the Stewards as being run in an unsafe condition.

"This information will be formally communicated to the teams in the Race Directors’ notes and further updates issued as required."