During the build-up to the Qatar Grand Prix, the FIA’s announcement regarding Pirelli’s discovery of a serious risk of potential punctures during the main race sent shockwaves through the F1 paddock. The revelation came after Pirelli analyzed the tires used in Friday’s FP1 session, which had completed over 20 laps. The analysis revealed an alarming issue of sidewall separation between the tires’ topping compound and the carcass cords, mainly due to the pounding received from raised pyramid-shaped kerbs at two corners with revised track limits. This raised concerns among both the teams and the drivers.
To investigate the extent of the problem, Pirelli decided to analyze the tires used in Saturday’s 19-lap sprint race, which featured revised track limits and three safety car periods. Despite the challenging circumstances, it was crucial to understand the impact of the new track changes and the high-speed maneuvers on the tires. Pirelli needed to determine if the issue of sidewall separation still persisted after these modifications.
Following Oscar Piastri’s victory in the sprint race and a series of safety car periods, Pirelli faced the challenge of evaluating the tires’ condition accurately. The interruption caused by the safety car periods meant that the soft and medium tires were not subjected to the expected full green flag race stint. Consequently, the strain on the sidewalls may have been different from what was initially anticipated.
Despite the completion of the analysis, the FIA decided not to disclose the outcome of Pirelli’s investigation immediately. Instead, they planned to inform all the teams during a meeting at 2 pm local time in Qatar on Sunday. This decision aimed to ensure that all relevant parties were fully informed before any official announcements were made. However, this caused frustration among some drivers, like Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, who learned about the tire situation through media reports.
The Role of Pirelli
In a press release, Pirelli motorsport boss Mario Isola highlighted the series of events that had unfolded on race day. Isola acknowledged that during Pirelli’s routine analysis the night after the practice session, they discovered micro lacerations in the sidewall of some tires that had completed 20 or more laps. These lacerations were likely a result of repeatedly going over the kerbs, especially at Turns 12 and 13.
Once Pirelli completes its analysis of the returned tire sets, the results will be shared with the FIA. Based on these findings, further measures may be implemented to address the issues identified ahead of the grand prix.
The Importance of Communication
The timing of the announcement of the tyre rules for the grand prix was a matter of concern for teams, engineers, and drivers. Discovering potential tyre problems through media reports rather than direct communication from the FIA created frustrations among those involved. As a result, the decision to reveal the outcome of Pirelli’s investigation after the team managers’ meeting aimed to ensure proper communication and clarify any misconceptions.
The potential risk of dramatic tire punctures at the Qatar Grand Prix has raised serious concerns in the F1 community. Pirelli’s analysis of the tires used during the practice sessions and the sprint race has shed light on the issue of sidewall separation caused by the demanding track conditions. With the FIA, Pirelli is committed to addressing the problem effectively and implementing necessary measures to ensure the safety of all drivers during the main race. Communication and transparency will be paramount in resolving this issue and preventing any further incidents.
Leave a Reply