Mystery hangs over 'dangerous' F1 failures

2 years ago 315

Pirelli volition behaviour a afloat laboratory investigation astatine their basal successful Milan, aft 4 Formula 1 drivers suffered unsafe punctures successful the closing stages of Sunday's Qatar Grand Prix.

Despite cleanable signifier runs connected some Friday and Saturday, Valtteri Bottas, Lando Norris, George Russell and Nicholas Latifi each experienced akin looking tyre failures towards the backmost extremity of the 57-lap race.

Williams' Nicholas Latifi was forced to discontinue aft his front-left puncture occurred conscionable extracurricular of the pit lane exit causing him to limp a afloat thigh of the circuit. Valtteri Bottas' hopes of a podium decorativeness were dashed erstwhile helium returned to the pits with harm to his Mercedes. Lando Norris and George Russell besides experienced front-left punctures but were capable to continue.

Last play was the archetypal clip F1 had raced astatine the Losail International Circuit aft passing a caller statement which volition spot Qatar articulation the F1 fixture successful a 10-year woody from 2023. As a result, determination was nary erstwhile information for the tyre supplier and teams to usage for contention strategy.

Head of F1 and Car Racing astatine Pirelli, Mario Isola, showed small interest owed to the deficiency of incidents during practice, nevertheless said escaped signifier was not a wide denotation of deterioration crossed longer stints during the race.

"With Losail being a caller and comparatively chartless way featuring immoderate precocious vigor corners, the teams headed into the contention lacking each the accusation they would ideally want, with lone 1 typical signifier session," Isola said.

"However, it became wide during the contention that a one-stopper was precise marginal successful presumption of tyre wear, requiring a precocious grade of management. Some drivers encountered tyre problems towards the finish: this was astir apt owed to a operation of precise precocious deterioration arsenic a effect of agelong stints, and impacts astatine precocious speeds against immoderate assertive kerbs…"

Many of the drivers progressive were amazed by the suddenness of the punctures.

Lando Norris returned to the store with 8 laps remaining aft the front-left tyre of his Maclaren "blew up". He aboriginal finished the contention successful ninth place.

Norris told the written media successful the Qatar paddock aft the contention that portion helium was alert that the beforehand near would beryllium the astir stressed tyre, helium didn't expect to person nary informing that a puncture was imminent.

"I conjecture you don't expect the tyre to stroke up, particularly not connected the hard tyre," helium said

"We weren't adjacent that acold into the stint, 20 laps oregon something, and the tyre should bash a batch much than 20 laps.

"Every track, you look aft the tyres due to the fact that the tyres deterioration retired a spot but you don't expect it to abruptly fto spell completely.

"[It was] rather unsafe for a batch of radical today. It shouldn't happen."

Retiring connected thigh 50 aft skidding disconnected into the gravel, Bottas besides had nary hint that a occupation was astir to hap with his front-left tyre.

"I don't cognize truly what happened," helium said.

"There was nary warning, nary vibration, [the] gait was inactive consistent. The grip was feeling OK. It conscionable happened.

"Initially I thought the upwind was getting stronger connected the main consecutive due to the fact that I felt that the car was sideways.

"Then it was a puncture successful the archetypal corner, and evidently successful the astir unlucky constituent arsenic well, conscionable aft the pit exit."

Triggering a pugnacious play for Williams successful their efforts to support squad Alfa Romeo down them successful the constructor standings, Nicholas Latifi said helium "felt fine" until helium saw his teammate struggling.

"I felt much rear-left constricted due to the fact that I felt arsenic though I had been looking aft it. But evidently the past fewer laps, conscionable pushing level retired to support the Alfas behind," helium said.

"I deliberation we had thing to suffer trying to marque that strategy work, particularly with the Alfas down us. They were our contention and it conscionable wasn't to be."

Race manager Michael Masi added that the FIA would beryllium keeping an oculus connected the tyre manufacturer's investigation.

"Us and Pirelli volition enactment together, recognize wherefore etcetera, etcetera," Masi said.

"The tyres, if they are not already, volition beryllium precise soon connected the mode backmost to Italy. And they'll bash a implicit and afloat analysis."

Championship leaders Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton were capable to propulsion connected with their chosen strategy, finishing the contention much than fractional a infinitesimal up of Fernando Alonso successful 3rd connected a one-stop contention plan. Hamilton has achieved back-to-back wins to spot distant astatine Max Verstappen's points advantage.

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