P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Verstappen: Qatar shows F1 shouldn’t be guinea pig for changed circuits
Max Verstappen, the three-time world champion, dominated the Qatar Grand Prix despite the controversy surrounding the mandated 18-lap stints for tyres due to tears found in the sidewalls from drivers running over kerbs. The kerbs, built to FIA standard, were new for 2023, and the track was also resurfaced as part of Qatar’s investment in the Losail Circuit. The new asphalt made the track slippery, causing drivers to struggle with rear control throughout the weekend. Verstappen suggested that other categories should race at altered venues before F1 to avoid such issues, and also emphasized the importance of allowing new Tarmac to be properly run in. He found the imposed stint lengths to be a shame, with Red Bull boss Christian Horner noting that they limited strategic creativity but tested the strategists in a different way. This weekend served as a learning experience for the teams and highlighted the challenges of racing on a new track surface.
Source: motorsport
