Method 1 tyre provider Pirelli and the FIA have labored collectively on an motion plan that ought to assist keep away from a repeat of the tyre issues that marred final yr’s Qatar Grand Prix, Motorsport.com has discovered.
As F1 returned to the revamped Losail circuit in 2023, it hit bother as tyre issues have been encountered due to injury being brought on by new ‘pyramid’ kerbs that had been put in.
Following first free apply, Pirelli found microscopic separations within the sidewalls between the topping compounds and the carcass cords.
This was triggered by drivers working over the brand new kerbs, which featured a raised 50mm border – inflicting vital impacts because the tyres dropped over the sting. The difficulty was magnified due to the high-speed nature of the venue.
Talking on the time about what was making the problem, Pirelli’s head of F1 and automobile racing Mario Isola mentioned: “It isn’t simply the geometry of the kerbs, as a result of these kerbs are utilized in many different circuits. It is the time and the pace they keep on the kerbs that’s essential.
“So, right here, throughout the lap, all of the drivers are spending various time at excessive pace on the kerbs, and that is damaging the development.”
Qatar pyramid kerbs
Photograph by: Alex Kalinauckas
Amid issues about this injury opening the door to potential failures, the FIA intervened and mandated most stint lengths of 18 laps for brand spanking new tyres within the race, which was duly was a three-stopper.
In a bid to keep away from repeat issues, Pirelli and the FIA have labored laborious on a response to strive to make sure that the tyres keep away from an identical punishment this yr.
The most important change made will likely be on the monitor, with the pyramid-shaped kerbs having had their suggestions rounded off at seven of the monitor’s 16 corners.
These are on the first two corners, Turns 4 and 10 after which the part from Turns 12 to 14 the place essentially the most stress was placed on the tyres final yr.
The FIA mentioned earlier than this yr’s WEC spherical on the circuit: “The ‘Misano’ kind kerbs at Lusail Worldwide Circuit are the identical as used at many different circuits all over the world which might be homologated by each FIA and FIM.
“It was agreed with the circuit to grind down the height and sharp trailing edges of the “Misano” type kerbs at a number of turns with the intention to cut back the chance of sidewall injury when a automobile runs huge and rejoins from the route of the run-off space.
“The modification was made in settlement with Method 1 and Pirelli additionally notified.”
To additional discourage drivers from pushing issues too far, the FIA has additionally put in various gravel strips behind kerbs across the monitor.
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In addition to the bodily work on the monitor, Pirelli has performed experiments on its dynamic check beds at its Motorsport R&D Division in Milan to raised perceive the forces at play.
This has concerned working tyres over a pattern of the brand new kerb design that has been equipped to it by the FIA to see if there may be any danger of repeat issues.
Additional information has additionally been captured from earlier automobile testing that some groups have finished in latest weeks in Qatar.
Though the previous automobile testing doesn’t contain working the 2024-spec race tyres, the suggestions gathered has been helpful in correlating the work being finished again in Milan with what is occurring in the true world.
With Losail being one of the crucial punishing tracks of the season by way of power ranges, Pirelli is taking the toughest three compounds from its vary.
