Issues with tyre degradation forced the FIA to hold an emergency meeting amidst pressing tyre failure concerns.
Now, we all know that Formula 1 is a high-stakes game, where every inch of rubber on those tyres can make or break a race. But after the opening day of action at the Lusail international circuit, the folks at Pirelli found something peculiar about their tyres. It turns out there was some sidewall separation action happening, and that’s never a good sign.
For the uninitiated, sidewall separation is when the top layer of the tyre decides to part ways with the inner structure. Think of it as a messy breakup between two compounds – the topping and the carcass cords.
Why does this matter? Well, because it could lead to a rather deflating situation if the tyres are pushed too hard.
So, what’s causing this? It seems like the culprits are none other than the newfangled kerbs introduced in Qatar for this race weekend. These aren’t your run-of-the-mill kerbs; we’re talking about 50mm ‘pyramid’ kerbs, and they’ve been causing quite a ruckus. According to the FIA, the issue is a result of a “high-frequency kerb-tyre interference dance”, especially when the drivers decide to take those kerbs for a spin.

Now, the FIA isn’t one to stand idly by when there’s rubber on the line. They’ve decided to shake things up a bit for Saturday. There’s going to be an extra practice session – or an emergency tyre evaluation, if you will.
The FIA also has some tricks up its sleeve to prevent this tyre turmoil from affecting the main event. They’re revising track limits at Turns 12-13 – a little facelift to keep things in check. And there’s a 10-minute familiarisation session scheduled for Saturday afternoon, so drivers can get cosy with these kerbs.
The sprint shootout qualifying was initially supposed to kick off at a certain time, but they’ve pushed it back by 20 minutes, just to make sure everyone’s on the same page regarding these pyramid kerbs.
Now, here’s where it gets even more interesting. After the sprint race on Saturday, they’re going to give those tyres a thorough post-race analysis. If there’s even a hint of trouble, the FIA might put their foot down. They could impose some tyre regulations for Sunday’s grand prix.
Rules that could be imposed are things like tyre life that must not exceed 20 laps for new tyres in the race. And if you’re rolling with used tyres, that number goes up to 22, just to account for those in-out laps during qualifying. With these rules, every driver will have to make at least three pitstops for tyre changes during the race.
Now, I don’t know about you, but this tyre saga adds a spicy twist to the Qatar Grand Prix. Who would’ve thought those innocent-looking kerbs could cause such a commotion in Formula 1?
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