Pirelli, the tyre supplier for the Grand Prix, has expressed concerns following the first day of the GP Qatar. The gravel traps at the Lusail International Circuit – installed to discourage drivers from exceeding track limits – are leaving sharp debris on the ideal racing line. The tyre supplier now fears an increased risk of punctures throughout the weekend, especially after observing ‘deep cuts’ in the tyres on Friday.
While the sprint qualifying results of the three title contenders – pole for Oscar Piastri, with Lando Norris in third place and Max Verstappen in sixth – were in the spotlight, a worrying technical development was unfolding in the background. Pirelli noted severe damage to the tyres caused by gravel on the circuit. “We had several cuts in the tyre profiles, affecting all corners (of the cars),” Simone Berra, chief engineer at Pirelli, told the media.
The Italian tyre supplier also immediately identified the cause of the rubber damage. “This is mainly due to the gravel traps we have here,” Berra continued. “The circuit has also added three or four gravel traps compared to last year, and it’s clear that the drivers, when pushing to the limit, bring some gravel onto the racing line. As a result, we’ve already seen quite a few deep gravel cuts in the tyres.”
Sharp Gravel
Fears of punctured tires at the Lusail International Circuit were already present before the Grand Prix weekend. Due to the high wear observed during last season’s race, the tire supplier has also set a limit of 25 laps per tire set for this weekend. The addition of extra gravel traps this year is meant to discourage drivers from exceeding the track limits, but it is now causing problems.
“The gravel is quite sharp, as it easily caused these cuts,” explains Berra. “It even seems sharper than at other circuits. I’ve seen a few quite deep cuts that reached the construction. Fortunately, they didn’t cut any cords, but if you expose the construction and continuously drive over this gravel, you naturally run the risk of a puncture.”
Therefore, Pirelli plans to keep a close eye on the tires, especially during Saturday’s qualifying. “During the qualifying and the sprint qualifying, drivers push much harder than during the sprint and the race. During races, they stay on the track a bit more, so during the sprint and the race on Sunday, it might be less of a concern. But of course, we also want to keep our eyes open on this point,” the Pirelli chief engineer reassures the drivers.
