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Concern over potential tyre failures prompted System 1 to alter its observe limits guidelines forward of qualifying for its dash race at Losail Worldwide Circuit at this time.
Additional adjustments are into account for tomorrow’s grand prix together with a most stint size or minimal variety of pit stops.
The issue got here to gentle after the tyres utilized in yesterday’s sole apply session had been analysed by Pirelli. They think harm inflicted by the kerbs across the refurbished observe led to the issue.
“We noticed a sign that there was, within the development of the tyre on the sidewall, a small separation between the carcass core and the topping compound,” Pirelli’s head of motorsport Mario Isola defined.
“Clearly then we went deeper into the evaluation and [found] this is because of sturdy influence in opposition to or repeated influence in opposition to one thing. We imagine that it’s an influence in opposition to a kerb.”
Kerbs precipitated tyre issues on F1’s sole earlier go to to Losail in 2021. Since then the observe has been refurbished and new kerbs put in however Isola says the issue has remained.
The earlier kerb design had two raised rows, one larger than the opposite. The newest design solely has a single row the place the kerbs attain a degree three to 5 centimetres above the observe floor.
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“The geometry of the kerbs we’ve got right here is much like the geometry of the kerbs that we had in 2021, the second row of the kerbs,” Isola defined. “And in 2021 we had the same concern.”
One other contributing issue is that drivers can acquire lap time by working alongside the kerbs at some factors on the circuit, reminiscent of turns 12 and 13.
“It’s not simply the geometry of the kerb, as a result of these kerbs are utilized in many different circuits,” mentioned Isola. “It’s the time and the velocity they keep on the kerbs that’s essential.
“So right here, throughout the lap, all of the drivers are spending numerous time on the excessive velocity on the kerbs and that is damaging the development.”
The impact of drivers working alongside the excessive kerbs was “such as you take a hammer with a pyramid on the high and also you [strike] in opposition to the sidewall 110 [times] per second,” mentioned Isola.
The change within the development of the kerbs means drivers now not really feel a smaller set of bumps earlier than reaching the taller bumps.
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“In 2021 this was the second row [of kerbs], so once they had been going out, the primary row was 25 millimetres and the second row was 50 millimetres. Now we’ve got just one row that’s 50 millimetres.
“So that they leap over the kerb and so they go down and that’s in all probability why we came upon this concern in free apply. Fortunately we came upon this concern in free apply and I imagine it’s an excellent instance of predicting a problem and likewise working with the opposite stakeholders with the intention to keep away from any security concern throughout the race.”
The kerbs are extensively used at different tracks. “That is fairly an ordinary kerb,” mentioned Isola. “Right here the distinction is the quantity and the velocity.
“Clearly there isn’t any obligation to seek the advice of us. If we’re consulted that we’re blissful to provide our suggestions. The purpose is that this observe is new, the kerbs have been positioned only one month in the past so it was additionally unimaginable to make any inspection or any examine earlier within the 12 months.”
The tyres could be vulnerable to failing if drivers continued to run alongside the kerbs for a lot of laps, mentioned Isola. “For those who proceed to run on the identical tyre then a small fracture can proceed, after which you may attain a degree the place you might have a lack of strain. And you probably have a lack of strain, clearly you run flat.”
When F1 beforehand raced at Losail the sequence used 13-inch wheels and the tyres had taller, extra versatile sidewalls. Nevertheless Isola mentioned the brand new era of tyres for 18-inch wheels weren’t essentially much less in a position to face up to the harm meted out by the kerbs.
“The smaller sidewall for certain isn’t serving to this impact as a result of you might have much less alternative to soak up the hit. However basically, after we made some particular check on the 18-inch tyre we realised that the extent of resistance of the development was in step with the 13-inches. So we aren’t saying that the 18-inch tyre is weaker in comparison with the earlier tyre.”
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Though groups performed simulations of the revised Losail circuit, Pirelli mentioned this gave no indication of the potential downside with the kerbs. The harm sustained by the tyres was minor and solely picked up as soon as Pirelli minimize aside the tyres utilized in apply and examined them with a microscope.
“If I minimize the tyre and I present you the part, you can’t see any harm,” mentioned Isola. “It’s so small that we will [only] discover the harm with a microscope.
“So it’s not a problem that I’m right here saying ‘guys, listen as a result of we’ve got a giant concern’. No, it’s a sign, however clearly we can’t ignore it.”
Pirelli are completely assured the tyres will final for the 19-lap dash race “due to the tyres we analysed yesterday,” mentioned Isola. They may study the tyres utilized in tonight’s race earlier than a call is taken on whether or not additional restrictions have to be put in place for the race.
“After the dash [race] all of the drivers will return the set of tyres used. We’re going to minimize the tyres once more, analyse the tyre, discover the results of the investigation and inform the FIA.
“If the issue remains to be there the answer for tomorrow is to impose a most variety of laps for every set of tyre.”
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A requirement for all drivers to make no less than three pit stops can also be being thought-about. Isola mentioned that is essential to introduce selection into methods.
“It’s 57 laps and when you impose two [pit stops], the danger is to have all of the vehicles on the identical lap coming in. That makes confusion. So when you impose a minimal variety of laps at 20, however three stops, you might have the flexibleness to play round this.”
Though Isola mentioned Pirelli weren’t consulted on the adjustments made to Losail earlier than the groups arrived there, he believes nobody ought to be blamed for the issue.
“I don’t need to speak about ‘fault’,” he mentioned. “There is a matter and we’ve got to work collectively to repair the difficulty. Then clearly you study from points and for the longer term, we have to discover a higher course of with the intention to anticipate it.
“Nevertheless it’s essential that if there is a matter that’s not predicted, we’ve got a system that’s occurring earlier than we’ve got any tyre concern on observe and we will repair it, even when we’ve got to alter the schedule or the observe limits or no matter.”
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