Formula 1 tire supplier Pirelli has identified tire damage following the first day of the Qatar Grand Prix weekend. Inspections revealed cuts on the tire surfaces caused by gravel from the new runoff areas at the Lusail circuit, reports Idman.biz, citing RaceFans.
“After the sessions, we noticed cuts on some tires caused by gravel brought onto the track by cars going off into the new runoff areas along the circuit. While the damage is not enough to cause a loss of pressure, we will closely monitor tire conditions during tomorrow’s sessions,” said Pirelli chief engineer Simone Berra.
The company has raised the minimum starting pressures on all tires by 1 psi. Slick tires now require 29 psi at the front and 24.5 psi at the rear. Pirelli has also maintained the 25-lap limit per tire set due to extreme wear at this track.
