Tyre drama in Qatar! Pirelli slaps 25 lap limit on F1 rubber amid safety scare

 

Pirelli, Formula One’s (F1) official tyre supplier, in agreement with the FIA and F1 Management after consultation with the teams. Have announced a maximum of 25 laps per tyre set will be enforced across the race weekend at the Lusail International Circuit. The regulation was confirmed on the 17^th of November ahead of the Qatar which is the final sprint weekend of the 2025 calendar.

The laps will be counted collectively across all track session, including under the Safety Car (SC) or Virtual Safety Car (VSC).

Spokesperson stated: “Every set of tyres supplied to the teams at the start of the race weekend can cover a maximum of 25 laps of the Lusail track, which is very demanding on tyres in terms of energy, thermal stress and wear.”

However, laps to the grid and formation laps in addition to those completed after the chequered flag in the sprint and the Grand Prix will not be included in the count.

In order to reduce the number of pit stops, the teams had worked on tyre degradation management, limiting performance drop off which sometimes ran the risk of extending the stint beyond the useful life of the tyre.

Spokesperson said: “As the Qatar Grand Prix is run over 57 laps, each driver will inevitably have to changes tyres at least twice.”

Before the start of the Grand Prix, Pirelli will inform teams how many laps are still available for each set.

Last year, several tyres, particularly the front left had reached the maximum wear wear level. With these conditions, combined with the high lateral energy had increased the structural fatigue of the construction.

Spokesperson added: “A similar precautionary measure had already been introduced at this track in 2023, although that was for different problems which are now resolved.”

That year, in particular drivers were repeatedly going over some kerbs which lead to micro-lacerations in the tyres side walls. The subsequent modification made last year to the pyramid kerbs along with the addition of strips of gravel around them avoided a repetition of this situation.

📸 Imagery courtesy of Pirelli Motorsport