Whereas the three-way battle for Formulation 1’s Drivers’ Championship inevitably takes centre stage on the Qatar Grand Prix, the season’s penultimate occasion additionally contains a particular tyre rule in place for this weekend.
What is the regulation, why has it been launched and what influence may it have on Sunday’s crunch 57-lap race on the Lusail Worldwide Circuit? Learn on to search out out…
What’s the new tyre rule for Qatar?
Pirelli has imposed limits on the laps every set of tyres can full through the Qatar race weekend.
Every tyre set can cowl a most of 25 laps cumulatively by the weekend’s 5 observe classes.
The one laps not counted in the direction of the totals are laps from the pit lane to the grid, formation laps and people accomplished after the chequered flag in Saturday’s Dash and Sunday’s Grand Prix.
Pirelli will inform the groups forward of the Grand Prix what number of laps have been accomplished on their remaining tyre units. As a result of demanding nature of the Lusail observe, Pirelli are bringing their three hardest compounds of their vary to the occasion – the C1 (onerous), C2 (medium) and C3.(gentle).
Groups begin the occasion with two units of onerous, 4 of medium and 6 of sentimental.
So what does all of it imply?
Over to Sky Sports activities F1’s Bernie Collins, former head of race technique at Aston Martin, to interrupt down a number of the key questions across the tyre rules for this weekend…
Why has the rule been launched?
Bernie Collins: “Qatar is a high-speed circuit that places loads of masses within the tyres.
“In 2023 we had fairly aggressive peaks within the kerbs that have been really reducing the sidewalls of the tyres, which is clearly very harmful as a result of high-speed nature of the observe and the hundreds the tyres are below.
“With the very popular situations and the aggressive kerbs two years in the past, they did implement a structured tyre lifetime of 18 laps, which was extra restrictive than what we now have for this yr.
“These kerbs have been reprofiled earlier than final yr’s race, so that’s now not a difficulty. Nevertheless, final yr we had a lot cooler situations in Qatar than we anticipated and that allowed groups to finish a one-stop technique as a result of there was little or no tyre degradation. That, mixed with fairly an extended pit-loss time, pushed individuals to finish a one-stop technique and noticed some tyres attain most put on stage.
“The outer floor had mainly worn away and you might be on the development of the tyre. Mixed with the potential for the cuttings on the kerb when the tyre may be very skinny, that’s what Pirelli are fearful about.
“So sporting it to that very skinny stage, for those who get a reduce then it’s extremely harmful, in order that’s why they’ve introduced on this restrict of 25 laps primarily based on the 35 laps that that they had seen individuals full final yr.”
How will it change how groups put together for the race?
Bernie: “The largest factor that it’s going to change is that it forces all groups right into a two-stop technique however with 25 laps and solely a 57-lap race there may be good variability in when you’ll be able to cease.
“So, in contrast to two years in the past, I believe there may be loads of variability attainable in technique.
“It is going to change how individuals use tyres and what tyres they save for the race. If the observe temperature is cool sufficient it may have been a one-stop race once more with out this limitation so subsequently groups are going to want one other set for the race than they might in any other case have carried out.
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“They will even have to verify the units they’ve accessible do not have already got too many laps on them in order that they depart themselves sufficient flexibility.
“I really assume it would push in the direction of a soft-medium race or a minimum of two units of medium and one set of hards as a result of you aren’t going to be working the tyre for a really very long time.
“So perhaps the benefit of getting a tough tyre is not as nice as it could be for those who have been attempting to at least one cease, for instance.”
The rest to think about?
Bernie: “One restriction with the 25 laps is what individuals can do below sure Security Vehicles.
“Pitting below a Security Automobile at the start of the race with a broken entrance wing, for instance, would imply you’d nonetheless need to cease two extra instances as a result of you’ll be able to’t get to the top with two units of 25 laps.
“Equally, if the Security Automobile comes out with 26 laps to go you’ll be able to’t cease below that Security Automobile so it’s fairly restrictive in some Security Automobile conditions and may result in some oddities there.
“It additionally restricts the earliest that somebody can cease in a traditional racing state of affairs.
“If you happen to assume somebody desires to undercut a automobile forward, for instance, the earliest you’ll be able to actually cease is lap seven in an effort to have two 25-lap stints to the top. And, for those who do cease on lap seven then, everybody is aware of precisely which lap you’ll cease on afterward within the race – 32. In order that can be fascinating.”
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Will the rule assist or hinder sure groups’ automobiles?
Bernie: “I believe those who really feel they’ve a bonus on tyre life will really feel hindered by it. So perhaps McLaren will really feel hindered a bit bit by it however groups which have higher degradation than others will nonetheless have higher degradation than others and perhaps capable of push the tyre a bit bit tougher within the two-stop.
“So I do not assume it is a huge professional or con.”
Sky Sports activities F1’s Qatar GP schedule
Look again at a number of the most dramatic moments to have taken place on the Qatar Grand Prix.
Friday November 2811.05am: F2 Practice1pm: Qatar GP Observe (session begins at 1.30pm)*3.30pm: Crew Bosses’ Press Conference4.05pm: F2 Qualifying*4.50pm: Qatar GP Dash Qualifying (session begins at 5.30pm)*
Saturday November 291pm: Qatar GP Dash build-up*2pm: QATAR GP SPRINT*3.30pm: Ted’s Dash Pocket book*4.15pm: F2 Sprint5.15pm: Qatar GP Qualifying build-up6pm: QATAR GP QUALIFYING8pm: Ted’s Qualifying Pocket book
Sunday November 3011.55am: F2 Feature2.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Qatar GP build-up4pm: THE QATAR GRAND PRIX6pm: Chequered Flag: Qatar GP reaction7pm: Ted’s Pocket book
*additionally on Sky Sports activities Primary Occasion
Formulation 1’s season-ending triple header continues with the Qatar Grand Prix Dash weekend stay on Sky Sports activities F1 from Friday. Stream Sky Sports activities with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
