Seven of the Qatar Components 1 circuit’s 16 corners now function new kerb profiles after adjustments forward of the 2023 race resulted in injury which pressured the FIA to impose most stint lengths in the course of the race.
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The kerbs rose to sharp 50mm factors on their inside edges, with a steep drop-off, the intention being to dissuade drivers from taking liberties with monitor limits. However the high-speed nature of this circuit, mixed with the size of time the vehicles spend on the kerbs, meant the sharply angled profiles had the unintended consequence of inflicting microscopic separations within the tyres’ sidewalls.
As Motorsport.com can reveal right here, every kerb has in impact been ‘shaved’ to present a flatter high floor and a much less abrupt drop-off on the skin edge. Tyres ought to subsequently be working below much less duress as they trip the kerbs in regular circumstances – and have a much less forceful affect with the bottom if the motive force strays over the sting.
Kerbs element
Picture by: Uncredited
Kerbs element
Picture by: Uncredited
F1’s official tyre provider, Pirelli, replicated the brand new kerb profiles on the dynamic check beds at its Milan R&D base and is assured the answer is powerful. The corporate already brings the toughest three compounds in its vary – C1, C2 and C3 – to Qatar however the failures final yr, which prompted the FIA to impose a most stint size of 18 laps, had been claimed to not be an element of compound sort.
Because the authentic so-called ‘Misano’ kerbs had been put in as a deterrent in opposition to exceeding monitor limits, the FIA has needed to discover another answer. As such the circuit homeowners have put in slim gravel strips on the outer boundaries of the reprofiled kerbs.
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