P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Pirelli flying Qatar F1 tyres back to HQ as hunt for answers begins
Pirelli, the official tyre supplier of F1, had to take action after discovering sidewall separation issues with the tyres used in Qatar. They suspected that the problem was caused by the high loads the tyres were experiencing from the pyramid kerbs installed on the Losail circuit. To ensure driver safety, it was agreed that tyres could only be used for a maximum of 18 laps, turning the race into a three-stopper. Pirelli plans to transport the tyres to Milan for further analysis. The head of car racing and F1 at Pirelli, Mario Isola, believes that the main issue was the lack of communication between F1, the FIA, and Pirelli regarding the kerbs on the circuit, suggesting that all stakeholders should be involved in decision-making processes. Pirelli had previously warned the FIA about kerb problems triggering punctures, but their advice was not heeded. This tyre issue in Qatar was unprecedented in single seaters and had only been seen once before in rallying many years ago.
Source: motorsport
