Pirelli is implementing a special emergency rule for the Qatar Grand Prix. Drivers are allowed to complete a maximum of 25 laps on one set of tyres at the gruelling Lusail International Circuit. This makes the Grand Prix, like the last Monaco GP, a mandatory two-stopper. The high rate of degradation in Doha, due to the heat and the characteristics of the circuit, has caused multiple tyre blowouts in previous editions.
Tyre supplier Pirelli confirmed on Monday, after consultation with the FIA and Formula 1, that there will be a maximum number of laps per set of tyres in Qatar. After 25 laps, all teams are required to bring their drivers in for a change. Of course, stopping earlier is always allowed. “The laps are cumulatively counted over all track sessions, including laps run under the Safety Car or Virtual Safety Car,” Pirelli clarified in an official statement. “Laps to the grid, formation laps, and laps completed after the chequered flag are not counted.”
Two-Stop Strategy
Since the Qatar Grand Prix is run over 57 laps, every driver is therefore required to make a mandatory two-stop. “This measure was deemed necessary after the analysis of the tyres used in 2024,” the statement reads. “Last year, several tyres – particularly the left front tyre – had reached the maximum wear level.” Pirelli is also bringing the hardest compounds from its tyre range to Qatar. C1 serves as Hard, C2 as Medium, and C3 as Soft.
The Qatar GP is known as a true endurance test, both for the drivers and the tyres. The combination of fast corners, coarse asphalt, and sharp kerbstones constantly pushes the rubber to its limit. During the inaugural edition in 2021, no less than four drivers suffered a tyre blowout, each time on the left front. With the introduction of the current ground-effect regulations, the load became even greater: drivers pushed the limit more often, leading to fractures in the rubber. Although the kerbs were flattened for the 2024 edition, the fear of tyre problems remained.
