P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Pirelli: Pre-F1 events no help in preventing repeat of Qatar woes
The recent event at the Losail circuit in Qatar was overshadowed by tyre problems. Pirelli discovered a separation in sidewalls during practice running, leading to concerns about tyre failures in the race. The FIA responded with a mandate that tyres could not be used for more than 18 laps, turning the grand prix into a three-stop race. The tyre problems were believed to be caused by the extreme punishment they faced on specific kerbs at the track. Some suggested that holding an international motorsport event prior to the grand prix could have uncovered these issues. However, Pirelli’s head of car racing, Mario Isola, believes that the demands of Formula 1 are different from other categories, making it difficult to detect track issues beforehand. Max Verstappen, the world champion, expressed the need for running-in the track before Formula 1 to avoid situations like this in the future.
Source: motorsport
