Max Verstappen (NLD) Red Bull Racing. 07.10.2023. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 18, Qatar Grand Prix, Doha, Qatar, Sprint Day.
Max Verstappen has questioned why the FIA are unable to make track changes when drivers raise concerns amid its decision to revise two corners in Qatar this weekend.
The FIA altered track limits at Turns 12 and 13 ahead of Saturday’s running after Pirelli discovered a separation in the sidewall between the topping compound and the carcass cords on many tyres on Friday night.
It was believed that the implementation of 50mm ‘Pyramid’ kerbs was responsible for the issues, resulting in the track being narrowed by 80cm between Turns 12 and 13.
The sport’s governing body also allocated a 10-minute practice session to allow the drivers to become familiarised with the changes before the delayed Sprint Shootout.
While Verstappen accepts that safety holds priority, the three-time champion has queried why the FIA could impose changes midway through this weekend but not at other venues previously at the request of the drivers.
“I think it’s never of course a good look for the sport, but let’s first wait and see what they come up with,” Verstappen said regarding the tyre problems.
“For sure, in the Sprint Race you could see that there was a lot of deg and the front tyres were wearing a lot. Just yeah, very tough around here.
“Of course, they already changed two corners in the high-speed corners, which I find quite interesting how quickly these things can be changed but when we speak about we want to have track limits changed here and there with the white line or whatever it’s all very hard.
“I think that’s also something for the future we need to speak about because I think we need to be heard a bit more.
“And in general, tomorrow it’s important safety is foremost and that we don’t get any punctures or even worse accidents, so let’s see what happens tonight [Saturday].”
Pirelli plans to submit their findings from Saturday evening’s Sprint Race to the teams hours in advance of Sunday’s grand prix.
Should the sport’s tyre supplier notice a similar trend following the 19-lap encounter, the FIA will step in to mandate a three-stop race for all competitors on safety grounds.
That would entail a fresh set of tyres only being allowed to do 20 laps, with any used tyres limited to 22 laps to account for in-laps and out-laps conducted during qualifying.
Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP) Ferrari on the grid. 07.10.2023. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 18, Qatar Grand Prix, Doha, Qatar, Sprint Day.
Along with Verstappen, Carlos Sainz was also extremely unhappy, blasting the FIA for retaining the same kerbs that had previously caused damage to the Pirelli tyres.
Asked about the possibility of using a mandated strategy, Sainz replied: “If it’s necessary for safety, we have to do it.
“But obviously [what] I don’t appreciate and I don’t like is that we were here in ’21, in the meantime, there’s been two years to react to these bad kerbs. There’s been a resurface, a redoing of the kerbs and for some reason the FIA persisted with this design of kerbs that are killing Pirelli tyres.
“I’m not blaming Pirelli, but at the same time clearly there’s something going on there.
The Spaniard was equally unimpressed at only being informed about the track changes via the media, slamming the FIA’s lack of communication as “not good enough”.
“And at the same time, we arrived today in the morning and we see the news in the press when no one informs us that there’s going to be track limits [changes],” he continued.
“No one tells us that the tyre is delaminating or anything like that and we have to learn things from the press which is clearly not how things should be done.
“As the GPDA we were not happy with the situation and we hope that the collaboration starts getting better because reading things from the press when our safety is involved and our input should be considered is not good enough.”
Keyword: Verstappen blasts FIA inconsistency over Qatar track changes