Evaluation of Pirelli rubber after the opening day of motion on the Losail circuit has revealed that there was proof of a sidewall separation between the topping compound and the carcass cords.
A press release issued by the FIA steered that this downside may result in air loss if the tyres have been used an excessive amount of.
Preliminary indications pointed to the issue having been triggered by a brand new design of kerbs inbuilt Qatar for this weekend’s occasion.
“This situation has probably been brought on by the high-frequency interference between the tyre sidewall and the 50mm ‘pyramid’ kerbs used extensively at this circuit, aggravated by the propensity to journey these kerbs,” defined the governing physique.
The difficulty is sufficient of a fear for the FIA to immediate an emergency reshuffle of its timetable for Saturday – with an additional apply session now slotted in to judge the scenario.
In its assertion, the FIA stated {that a} host of measures have been being taken to avert the potential of issues within the race.
It defined that monitor limits at Turns 12-13 could be revised and that an additional 10-minute familiarisation session would happen at 4pm on Saturday – shifting again the beginning of begin of dash shootout qualifying – to permit drivers to get used to the brand new policing.
Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL60, within the pit lane
Picture by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
The dash shootout will now begin at 4.20pm native time – 20 minutes later than initially scheduled.
Following the dash race on Saturday night, additional evaluation of the tyres will happen to resolve if any extra motion is required for Sunday’s grand prix.
If there are indicators of additional bother, then the FIA may power most utilization for tyres on Sunday on security grounds.
This might be that tyre life should not exceed 20 laps for brand new tyres within the race, and this quantity would rise to 22 for any used tyres fitted within the race, to account for in-out laps in qualifying.
All drivers would even be obliged to carry out not less than three tyre-change pitstops in the course of the race.
Forward of the Qatar Grand Prix, AlphaTauri driver Yuki Tsunoda expressed his concern in regards to the aggressive kerbs that had been launched this 12 months.
“It is the step between the kerb and off monitor,” he stated. “Driving on the kerb will not be a problem, however when you step out from the kerbs it may be like an entire sliding impact.
“It isn’t clean in any respect, and particularly driving right here, with such high-speed corners the place the automobile is admittedly low, it will likely be onerous. Even one time shall be fairly pricey I believe.”