Haas team principal Guenther Steiner says it is “embarrassing” to have a situation where track changes are needed because the layout damages tires, after revisions at the Qatar Grand Prix.
Pirelli discovered initial signs of damage to the tire construction on all compounds after Friday’s running at Lusail, with analysis suggesting the repeated impact of the highest part of new exit curbs was to blame. That led to the track being moved 80cm inside the exit curb at Turn 12 and Turn 13 to keep cars off the most severe sections, and Steiner says it’s a situation that shouldn’t arise in a world championship.
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“It’s not right” Steiner said. “Finding a solution… I don’t know where the history of these new curbs come from but it just came up out of the blue. I think there was signs already two years ago we had issues, but there were different curbs. They were supposed to develop some curbs that don’t damage the tires, but apparently the curbs we have developed damage the tires.
“I don’t know exactly where it comes from, these tires I think just cannot deal it. I do not have a lot more information than you as I just got the email from the FIA saying what they’re going to do. I didn’t speak with Pirelli yet to see what actually is happening.
“I think if they found issues with the tires that is what they need to do to make sure you’re not having a situation like a few years ago when you’ve got tires going down, which is never good.
“It’s a concerning thing for the future. It shouldn’t happen. This should not happen in Formula 1. Clearly … But it has, and now we have to see how we get out of it. The good thing coming out, there are solutions for this race weekend but going forward this shouldn’t happen again.
“I don’t know if you want to call it embarrassing, but in the end, it is embarrassing because this is not where we should be.”
While unhappy with the situation occurring in the first place, Steiner says the right response has taken place from Pirelli and the FIA to deal with the issue, having informed teams on Saturday morning of the track changes, provided an additional 10-minute familiarization session for drivers and outlined potential restrictions relating to stint lengths in Sunday’s race.
“It was decided this morning, not tonight – it’s not a lot of difference, but at least they are proactively doing something for tomorrow and now going out and changing some of the track limits so you’re not going over those curbs… should help a little bit. I don’t know if that solves the problem because it wasn’t clear to me, they are doing three corners where the track limits will be changed so we don’t go on the curbs.
“I don’t know if it is only those curbs, or other ones as well. They don’t know as much as they would like to know otherwise we wouldn’t have ended up in this place.
“For safety reasons, for sure, if they see any risk of seeing flat tires they will have maximum running of the tires of 20 laps, is my understanding for tomorrow for the race.”