FIA: Sunday meeting with teams to decide tyre rules for Qatar GP

F1 teams will meet with the FIA at 2pm on Sunday at Lusail to discuss whether maximum stint lengths shall be imposed in the Qatar Grand Prix to alleviate safety concerns regarding Pirelli’s tyres.

The manufacturer announced on Saturday morning that following an analysis from Friday’s opening day of running that it had discovered “micro lacerations” in the sidewall of its tyres, a deterioration likely caused by the repeated impact of the rubber with Lusail’s recently installed raised pyramid-shaped kerbs.

On Saturday, revised track limit rules were enforced at two corners to mitigate the issue, while Pirelli is set to communicate to the FIA on Sunday morning the results of its analysis conducted in the wake of yesterday’s 19-lap sprint event.

Unfortunately, the short race was disrupted by multiple safety car periods, leaving Pirelli with just 9 laps of green-light racing from which to collect data.

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Depending on the outcome of this analysis, the FIA could mandate maximum stint lengths for Sunday’s race, potentially leading to a three-stop event that could have a significant impact on the running order given that not all drivers will start the race on an equal footing in terms of tyre and compound inventory.

Those drivers lacking fresh sets may need to run older soft tyres to make a three-stopper work or may even be required to undertake a fourth stop.

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The FIA has made clear that it will not publicly reveal the results of Pirelli’s latest analysis until after it has met with the teams on Sunday afternoon.

“As is the case at every race weekend, we are analysing the sets returned to us at the end of the day,” commented Pirelli motorsport boss Mario Isola after Saturday’s sprint event.

“Once this procedure is completed, we will pass on the results of our findings to the FIA and, if necessary, further measures will be put in place for tomorrow night’s grand prix.

“Looking ahead to tomorrow, it is not worth speculating about strategies, given that we must wait for the outcome of our on-going analysis and then see if this has any regulatory effect on how the race will be run.”

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.