Haas team principal Gunther Steiner says the tyre problems which have forced Formula 1 to revise its schedule for this weekend’s event are an embarrassment for the series.
The FIA announced on Saturday problems had been discovered with the tyres following the single hour of practice which was held yesterday.It is imposing new track limits rules to discourage drivers from running on kerbs at two corners which it believes has contributed to the problem. The start of the sprint race qualifying session has been postponed in order to give drivers an extra 10 minutes of practice to adjust to the new rules.
Further changes are under consideration for tomorrow’s grand prix, including potentially forcing all drivers to make at least three pit stops and imposing a maximum stint length of 20 laps.
Steiner admitted the unexpected development is “a concerning thing for the future.”
“It shouldn’t happen,” he said in response to a question from RaceFans. “This should not happen in Formula 1.”
“But it has, and now we need to see how we get out of it,” he continued. “I think the good thing with this coming out, there are solutions for this race weekend but going forward, this shouldn’t happen again.”
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“In the end it is embarrassing because this is not where we should be,” Steiner added.
This weekend’s event is Formula 1’s second visit to the Losail International Circuit, which it previously raced at in 2021. Several drivers encountered tyre failures which were blamed on the circuit’s kerbs. Since then the track has been extensively refurbished and new kerbs fitted.
Steiner said the changes to the track were supposed to prevent that problem recurring. “There was some signs already here two years ago, we had issues but they were different kerbs,” he said.
“I think they were supposed to develop some kerbs which don’t damage the tyres but apparently the kerbs we have developed they damage the tyres.”
“I didn’t speak with Pirelli yet to see what actually is happening, but I think if they found issues with the tyres that is what they need to do to make sure that we are not having a scenario like a few years ago, that you have got tyres going down which is never good,” he added.
The white line which defines the edge of the track is being repositioned at turns 12 and 13 to keep drivers away from the offending kerbs. However Steiner is concerned other parts of the high speed circuit may be inducing the problem with the tyres and further action may be necessary.
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“At least they are proactively doing something for tomorrow and now going out changing some of the track limits that we are not going over these kerbs should help a little bit,” he said. “But I don’t know if that sorts the problem because it wasn’t clear to me.
“They are doing three corners, the track limits will be changed so we don’t go on the kerbs. But I don’t know if it is only those kerbs or other ones as well. I think they don’t know as much as they would like to know, otherwise it wouldn’t have ended up in this place.
“So I think that for safety reasons, for sure if they see any risk of having flat tyres they will have a maximum running of the tyres of 20 laps is my understanding tomorrow for the proper race.”
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Ciaran (@ciaran)
7th October 2023, 13:31
Sure, but it’d be a much worse look if the problem was allowed to spiral out of control. We’ve seen that happen a few times which I don’t think anyone wants to repeat.
In the situation we’re in, the FIA’s response looks decent, and hopefully it’s enough. I would imagine this puts a significant dent in Pirelli’s bid for the next F1 tender.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
7th October 2023, 22:07
Hopefully, as a change is needed.
Ciaran (@ciaran)
8th October 2023, 13:16
I’ve apologised for Pirelli enough in the past, but yeah I’d agree something has to change. I can’t see Bridgestone agreeing to a degrading tyres mandate, so hopefully that gets phased out as well.
MichaelN
7th October 2023, 13:38
A bit like running the American team in a Russian flag, I guess.
Jere (@jerejj)
7th October 2023, 13:45
Agaib, zero concerns per se based on yesterday’s runnings, so everyone’s over-exaggerating.
Jere (@jerejj)
7th October 2023, 13:45
Again
Nick T.
7th October 2023, 13:58
Exactly, how much over the top safety does F1 need? It’s almost as embarrassing as these adjustments.
anon
7th October 2023, 14:10
@jerejj you seem to be failing to take into consideration that the problems occurred when they were running for an extended stint. Due to the fact that this is a sprint weekend, the shortened practice session and enforced restrictions on tyre usage during a sprint race weekend meant that most drivers were not running long enough stints for this issue to be immediately apparent to them.
Crawliin-from-the-wreckage (@davedai)
7th October 2023, 14:21
Disappointing to see some here recommending playing free and loose with the safety of others.
Nick T.
7th October 2023, 21:08
I race in more dangerous conditions than these guys. They’re literally cocooned in safety. Punctures aren’t going to injure anyone at a track like this.
Crawliin-from-the-wreckage (@davedai)
8th October 2023, 10:41
@Nicv T.
I race in more dangerous conditions than these guys
Wow! You’re my hero. You’re the guy with the 120 mph BMW right? What steps have you taken to improve safety in your “racing category”?
They’re literally cocooned in safety
Which parts ,if not all of, this cocoon would you like to see removed?
Punctures aren’t going to injure anyone at a track like this.
Good call Nostradamus all motor racing mechanical , tyre etc failures only result
in an expected and predetermined manner with no bad outcomes.
Unfnbelievable!
Electroball76
7th October 2023, 13:47
Gunther knows it’s all part of the show.
Just put some dramatic music behind him and slap it on Netflix.
Edvaldo
7th October 2023, 15:13
Worst event possible for Max to clinch the championship.
RandomMallard
7th October 2023, 16:34
Ironically, the BBC are now reporting that Pirelli are expected to keep the tyre contract for 2025-27 (plus an option for 2028), on the same weekend those Pirelli tyres are quite literally being shredded to pieces…
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
8th October 2023, 4:46
This is probably more of a matter of: no serious tyre supplier like bridgestone or michelin is really ok with making such bad tyres (with quick degradation for example) as the fia suggests, making pirelli the only possible choice.
ttucker
7th October 2023, 17:08
A strange decision – I don’t see quite how this is expected to advantage Max Verstappen.
ryanoceros (@ryanoceros)
7th October 2023, 19:48
That would be absolutely disastrous. What a joke. Maximum stint lengths??!
EffWunFan (@cairnsfella)
8th October 2023, 2:02
On the only assumption that one can make – that the concerns were well founded – I think appropriate action has been and is being taken. As much as I agree with the view that it is disappointing this can even occur, the various objectives that the supplier are tasked to fulfil are numerous and often contradictory. This, coupled with the ability to actually assess tyre degradation and damage in such detail makes the fact that this can occur somewhat unsurprising really.
‘Back in the day‘ one would have to wait for the failures to occur to know there is a problem.
Wallbreaker (@wallbreaker)
8th October 2023, 10:41
Some people downplaying this issue here in the comments seem to have forgotten about Indy ’05. I’d much rather have the FIA mandate tyre usage than a no-show of the majority of teams.
But then I again I remember they’re driving in Qatar and they shouldn’t even be there in the first place for a variety of reasons.