P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Russell gets his way as F1 rule change announced
Mercedes F1 star George Russell’s comments on Pirelli tires from last year have led to new tire rules being agreed upon by F1 for the upcoming Qatar Grand Prix. The recommendations state that tires at the Lusail International Circuit should not exceed 25 laps due to increased energy and thermal stress in hot conditions. The Qatar GP will now be a mandatory two-stop race to address this issue, making it the second such race of the season after Monaco GP. These changes could play to Russell’s advantage, as he has expressed frustrations with tire performance discrepancies in the past. Pirelli’s adjustments aim to level the playing field and avoid unexpected swings in race competitiveness based solely on tire choices. The upcoming Qatar GP will be a crucial race in the championship battle, with Max Verstappen trailing behind Lando Norris and Red Bull needing to strategize effectively for the remaining races. These strategic decisions will be limited at the Qatar GP, where teams will have to carefully balance tire wear and pit stop strategies within the constraints of the race’s lap count and weather conditions in the desert setting.
