System 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 hassle as tyre issues have been encountered due to harm being attributable to new ‘pyramid’ kerbs that had been put in.
Following first free observe, Pirelli found microscopic separations within the sidewalls between the topping compounds and the carcass cords.
This was triggered by drivers operating over the brand new kerbs, which featured a raised 50mm border – inflicting important impacts because the tyres dropped over the sting. The problem was magnified due to the high-speed nature of the venue.
Talking on the time about what should be blamed for the difficulty, Pirelli’s head of F1 and automotive 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 vital.
“So, right here, through the lap, all of the drivers are spending numerous time at excessive pace on the kerbs, and that is damaging the development.”
Qatar pyramid kerbs
Picture by: Alex Kalinauckas
Amid considerations about this harm opening the door to potential failures, the FIA intervened and mandated most stint lengths of 18 laps for brand new tyres within the race, which was duly changed into 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 largest change made will probably 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 probably 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 are 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 as a way to cut back the danger of sidewall harm when a automotive runs broad and rejoins from the course of the run-off space.
“The modification was made in settlement with System 1 and Pirelli additionally notified.”
To additional discourage drivers from pushing issues too far, the FIA has additionally put in plenty of gravel strips behind kerbs across the monitor.
In addition to the bodily work on the monitor, Pirelli has carried out experiments on its dynamic take a look at beds at its Motorsport R&D Division in Milan to raised perceive the forces at play.
This has concerned operating tyres over a pattern of the brand new kerb design that has been provided to it by the FIA to see if there may be any danger of repeat issues.
Additional information has additionally been captured from earlier automotive testing that some groups have carried out in latest weeks in Qatar.
Though the outdated automotive testing doesn’t contain operating the 2024-spec race tyres, the suggestions gathered has been helpful in correlating the work being carried out 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.