Pirelli mandates two pitstops for Qatar GP on safety grounds

Formula 1’s tyre supplier Pirelli has confirmed that a strict 25-lap maximum stint length will be imposed on every tyre set at next week's Qatar Grand Prix, effectively mandating a minimum of two pit stops during the 57-lap race.

The decision, taken jointly with the FIA and the sport’s ten teams, is a direct response to severe tyre damage observed during the 2024 event and aims to eliminate the risk of structural failures caused by excessive wear and repeated aggressive kerb contact.

Unlike the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix, where an 18-lap limit was introduced reactively after problems emerged in practice, the 2025 restriction has been planned well in advance following detailed post-season analysis of last year’s tyres.

In 2024 several drivers were able to complete the race with only one stop despite extreme degradation, particularly on the left-front tyre. The combination of high track temperatures, the abrasive Lusail surface and repeated high-speed kerb strikes on corner exits led to carcass damage and on-track punctures for Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton.

To prevent any repeat, no tyre will now be allowed to exceed 25 laps of green-flag running. Laps completed behind the safety car or under virtual safety car conditions will count toward the limit, while in-laps to the pits, out-laps, formation laps and any laps after the chequered flag will not.

Pirelli Justifies Safety measure

Pirelli explained the reasoning behind the decision in a statement:

“This measure has been deemed necessary, following analysis of the tyres used in 2024. Last year, several tyres, particularly the left front, had reached the maximum wear level.

“These conditions, combined with the high lateral energy had increased the structural fatigue of the construction.”

With the Qatar GP scheduled for 57 laps, the 25-lap cap ensures a minimum of two pitstops. Teams will be informed ahead of the race by Pirelli’s engineers how many laps remain for each used set, allowing them to manage their strategy within the new restrictions.

To tackle the notoriously demanding Lusail circuit, Pirelli will bring the hardest compounds in its range: C1, C2, and C3. For the sprint weekend format, each driver will have two sets of hards (C1), four sets of mediums (C2), and six sets of softs (C3).

The combination of high speeds, aggressive kerbs, and now mandated two-stop strategies promises to make tyre management a crucial factor in the race outcome at Qatar.

Read also: F1 Commission debates two-pitstop plan, no agreement reached

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