After FP1 on Friday, Pirelli adopted customary process by analysing the tyres and identified a microscopic separation within the sidewall between the topping compound and the carcass cords.
This was brought on by drivers working over the new-for-2023 ‘pyramid’ kerbs on the Losail circuit which function a raised 50mm border that was inflicting vital impacts because the tyres drop over the sting.
Additional evaluation adopted the 19-lap Saturday dash race that topped triple champion Max Verstappen to evaluate if the FIA ought to mandate three-stop methods for groups within the GP.
Resulting from three security automotive interruptions within the dash race, solely 12 laps had been accomplished at race velocity. This was not adequate to meaningfully add to Pirelli’s prior evaluation.
During a Sunday afternoon (1400 local time, six hours before the race start) meeting of F1 team managers, the FIA revealed the result of Pirelli’s in a single day investigation. Accordingly, the result is that the governing physique has imposed a most stint size of 18 laps for brand new tyres.
An FIA assertion learn: “Because of the frequency of Security Automotive interventions in yesterday’s Dash, the tyre information obtainable for evaluation by Pirelli was inadequate so as to add to that already undertaken following earlier monitor periods.
“In some {cases}, tyres that had been analysed from the Dash did present the preliminary onset of the separation within the sidewall between the topping compound and the carcass cords of the tyres.
Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-23, runs over the kerb at flip 12-13 that was altered on account of tyre separation
Photograph by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
“As a consequence, it has been determined by the FIA and Pirelli and after session with the groups on security grounds, the next measures will probably be applied for right now’s Qatar Grand Prix: a compulsory restrict of 18 laps of complete tyre life per set will probably be imposed; the lifetime of already used tyres will probably be considered.
“The FIA and Pirelli will talk to the groups the remaining obtainable laps for every set of used tyres at their disposal for the race and the standards used to calculate that quantity.”
Any driver who exceeds the 18-lap stint size will probably be reported to the stewards as being run in an unsafe situation and obtain a black flag denoting disqualification.
This has come down from the proposed 20-lap ceiling outlined on Saturday morning and, in impact, confirms that groups will nonetheless be pushed into finishing three cease methods for the 57-lap race.
Whereas the earlier 20-lap cycle meant the race may have been accomplished with solely two tyre adjustments, the proposed transfer to a few pitstops was conceived to stop vehicles from pitting on the identical time.
At Turns 12 and 13, the painted white line defining track limits has been brought in by 80cm to deliver drivers away from the raised kerb edges to protect the tyres.
A ten-minute acclimatisation session was added forward of the dash race, wherein Charles Leclerc and Lance Stroll had been handed five-second penalties for racking up 4 monitor limits infringements apiece.