Formulation 1 tyre provider Pirelli and the FIA have labored collectively on an motion plan that ought to assist keep away from a repeat of the tyre issues that marred final yr’s Qatar Grand Prix, Autosport has discovered.
As F1 returned to the revamped Losail circuit in 2023, it hit hassle as tyre issues had been encountered due to injury being brought on by new ‘pyramid’ kerbs that had been put in.
Following the primary free apply, Pirelli found microscopic separations within the sidewalls between the topping compounds and the carcass cords.
This was triggered by drivers working over the brand new kerbs, which featured a raised 50mm border – inflicting important impacts because the tyres dropped over the sting. The difficulty was magnified due to the high-speed nature of the venue.
Talking on the time about what should be blamed for the problem, Pirelli’s head of F1 and automotive racing Mario Isola mentioned: “It is not simply the geometry of the kerbs, as a result of these kerbs are utilized in many different circuits. It is the time and the velocity they keep on the kerbs that’s necessary.
“So, right here, in the course of the lap, all of the drivers are spending various time at excessive velocity on the kerbs, and that is damaging the development.”
Qatar pyramid kerbs
Photograph by: Alex Kalinauckas
Amid considerations about this injury opening the door to potential failures, the FIA intervened and mandated most stint lengths of 18 laps for brand new tyres within the race, which was duly became a three-stopper.
In a bid to keep away from repeat issues, Pirelli and the FIA have labored onerous on a response to attempt to make sure that the tyres keep away from an analogous punishment this yr.
The largest change made will likely be on the circuit, with the pyramid-shaped kerbs having had their ideas rounded off at seven of the observe’s 16 corners.
These are on the first two corners, Turns 4 and 10 after which the part from Turns 12 to 14 the place essentially the most stress was placed on the tyres final yr.
The FIA mentioned earlier than this yr’s WEC spherical on the circuit: “The “Misano” kind kerbs at Lusail Worldwide Circuit are the identical as used at many different circuits all over the world which can be homologated by each FIA and FIM.
“It was agreed with the circuit to grind down the height and sharp trailing edges of the “Misano” fashion kerbs at a number of turns to be able to cut back the danger of sidewall injury when a automotive runs broad and rejoins from the route of the run-off space.
“The modification was made in settlement with Formulation 1 and Pirelli additionally notified.”
To additional discourage drivers from pushing issues too far, the FIA has additionally put in quite a lot of gravel strips behind the kerbs.
In addition to the bodily work on the observe, Pirelli has carried out experiments on its dynamic check beds at its Motorsport R&D Division in Milan to raised perceive the forces at play.
This has concerned working tyres over a pattern of the brand new kerb design that has been equipped to it by the FIA to see if there’s any threat of repeat issues.
Additional information has additionally been captured from earlier automotive testing that some groups have performed in latest weeks in Qatar.
Though the previous automotive testing doesn’t contain working the 2024-spec race tyres, the suggestions gathered has been helpful in correlating the work being performed again in Milan with what is going on in the actual world.
With Losail being probably the most punishing tracks of the season by way of power ranges, Pirelli is taking the toughest three compounds from its vary.
Qatar observe modifications in full
- 2.0 m broad gravel strip put in behind kerb at exit Turns 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 12, 13, 14, 15
- Kerb top lowered at exit Turns 1, 2, 4, 10, 13, 14
- Kerb top lowered at entry and exit Flip 12
- White line moved to a distance of 1.5 m to the gravel at exit Turns 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 13, 14, 15 and entry Flip 12.
