Action plan taken by FIA and Pirelli to prevent problems in Qatar
Today at 03:22 AM
Formula 1's sole tire supplier, Pirelli, and the FIA have collaborated on an action plan to help avoid a recurrence of the tire problems that plagued last year's Qatar Grand Prix, according to information obtained by Motorsport.com.
When F1 returned to the revamped Lusail circuit in 2023, it faced tire issues caused by damage from the new “pyramidal” curbs that had been installed. After the first practice sessions, Pirelli discovered microscopic fractures on the shoulder area between the tread and the carcass.
The issue was triggered by drivers running over the new curbs, which featured a raised 50 mm edge, causing significant impacts when the tires went beyond the edge. The problem was exacerbated by the high-speed nature of the circuit.
Speaking about the causes of the issue at the time, Mario Isola, Pirelli's head, said: "It's not just the geometry of the curbs because these curbs are used at many other circuits. What matters is the time and speed spent on the curbs."
"Here, during the lap, all the drivers spend a lot of time at high speed on the curbs, and this damages the construction."
Amid concerns that such damage could lead to potential failures, the FIA intervened and imposed a maximum stint length of 18 laps for new tires during the race, effectively turning it into a three-stop event.
To prevent a recurrence of these issues, Pirelli and the FIA have worked extensively to ensure the tires avoid a similar situation this year.
The most significant change will be to the track itself: the pyramidal-shaped curbs have been rounded off in seven of the circuit’s 16 corners. These include the first two corners, Turn 4, Turn 10, and the section from Turn 12 to Turn 14, where tires were most stressed last year.
Ahead of this year's WEC race at the circuit, the FIA stated: "The 'Misano'-type curbs at the Lusail International Circuit are the same as those used at many other circuits worldwide, homologated by both the FIA and the FIM."
"It was agreed with the circuit to reduce the peak and sharp edges of the 'Misano'-type curbs at several corners to minimize the risk of damage when a car goes wide and returns. This modification was carried out in agreement with Formula 1, and Pirelli was also informed."
To further discourage drivers from going too far off-track, the FIA has also installed a series of gravel strips beyond the track's curbs.
In addition to physical work at the circuit, Pirelli conducted experiments on its dynamic test benches at its R&D Motorsport Department in Milan to better understand the forces at play. This involved using tires on a sample of the new curb design provided by the FIA to determine whether the issues could recur.
Further data was collected from recent tests that some teams conducted in Qatar over the past few weeks. While testing with older cars did not involve using race-specific tires for 2024, the feedback gathered was useful for correlating the work done in Milan with real-world scenarios.
Since Lusail is one of the season's most demanding circuits in terms of energy levels, Pirelli will use the three hardest compounds in its range.
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