Tyre and strategy insight
With teams only permitted to use a new set of tyres for a maximum of 18 laps during last year’s Qatar Grand Prix – after Pirelli raised concerns over tyre interactions with the kerbs leading to a separation in the sidewall between the topping compound and the carcass cords – Pirelli and the FIA have worked together to ensure that there is not a repeat of this in 2024.
Pirelli’s race weekend preview explains: “The pyramid-shaped kerbs have had their tips rounded off at seven of the track’s 16 corners: the first two after the start, Turns 4 and 10 and the three from 12 to 14, the section that had most stressed the sides of the tyres.
READ MORE: What tyres will the teams and drivers have for the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix?
“Engineers in the Pirelli Motorsport R&D department have carried out extensive and lengthy tests on the dynamic test beds in Milan, using a sample of the new kerbs supplied by the FIA. Furthermore, the engineers also analysed tyres from tests carried out by some Formula 1 teams in recent weeks at the Lusail circuit, running pre-2024 cars.
“Even though the tyres were obviously not identical to those from the 2024 range, the acquired data has still been useful to confirm the results of simulations and the indications from the test bed. It should also be noted that the FIA has ensured that a gravel strip is added to the outside of some kerbs to dissuade drivers from overstepping the mark in order to go quicker.
“[Graining] could have a significant impact on race strategy with the tyres possibly suffering from significant thermal degradation. Furthermore, there are so few precedents to these conditions that for now it is impossible to make predictions.
“Leaving aside the events of 2023, it should be remembered that, in 2021, some drivers only made one pit stop and others, like Hamilton and Verstappen who finished first and second, fought for the win running a two-stop strategy.
“While keeping in mind that 2021 featured cars from the previous generation, therefore with very different tyre compounds, there were many different choices made in terms of compounds used, as indeed was the case in last year’s Sprint when 12 drivers started on the medium and eight on the soft.”
FAN VIEW: Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz is seen as a likely contender to earn a place on the podium in Qatar, according to F1 Play gamers, as is future Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri – who has two Grand Prix wins to his name this season and was runner-up in this race last year – is also well supported.