Pirelli has made a two-stop race mandatory for the Qatar Grand Prix by imposing a maximum of 25 laps for each set of tires due to concerns about excessive wear.
The penultimate race of the season will take place in just under two weeks, following the Grand Prix of Las Vegas next weekend. A maximum stint length was imposed for the event two years ago due to minor tire damage caused by specific curbs on the Lusail International Circuit, but on this occasion the restrictions are a result of tire wear.
An analysis of data from last year’s race shows that several tires – especially the left front tire – had reached the maximum wear level on the high-speed circuit. As teams tried to make one stop for strategic reasons and protect themselves from relegation, this meant that the tires often lasted longer than what Pirelli specified as a useful lifespan.
Despite the three most difficult compounds – C1, C2 and C3 – being used in Qatar, the high lateral energy passing through the tires at Lusail meant there were concerns about potential failure due to the increased structural fatigue the tire would experience.
As a result, teams are only allowed to run a maximum of 25 laps on a set of tires, a number that is counted cumulatively over each session and also includes Safety Car and Virtual Safety Car laps. Excluded from the total are laps to the grid, formation laps and laps completed after the checkered flag in the Sprint and Grand Prix.
The maximum number of laps means that teams must make at least two pit stops during the Grand Prix in Qatar, with the race distance set at 57 laps.
The move is based on safety and is separate from ongoing discussions between the FIA, F1 and the teams over a possible mandatory two-stop scheme to improve racing. The proposal includes changes to tire specifications, tire life limits and the use of three different compounds during a race, but no changes were agreed at the recent F1 Commission meeting and exploratory talks will continue into 2026.
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