Although Pirelli has opted for the hardest available compounds at the Lusail International Circuit, a group decision has imposed a maximum limit of twenty-five laps per tyre.

Qatar GP tyre selection

Being a sprint weekend the tyre allocation per driver is two sets of hards, four sets of mediums and six sets of softs. Along with 4 sets of intermediates and 3 sets of full wets.

The group that made this decision were the FIA, F1 and the teams at the urging of Pirelli. It was made in acknowledgement of the eventful 2024 Qatar GP.

Tyre lap accounting will be a demanding task for the tyre strategists. The lap count will include all laps in practice, sprint qualifying, the sprint race, grand prix qualifying and the grand prix itself. The laps completed under a safety car or a virtual safety car are also included. The only excluded laps will be laps to the grid, formation laps and laps completed after the chequered flag in the sprint race and the grand prix.

This means that the 57 lap GP will have to be a minimum of two pitstops. The sprint race of 19 laps will not have to have any pit stops unless sets of tyres have been used previously in practice or sprint qualifying.

Under the sprint weekend regulations, each driver will be supplied with two sets of hards, four sets of mediums and six sets of softs for the entire race weekend.

The next race is Las Vegas followed by Qatar and then finally Abu Dhabi to round off this year’s season. All in the next three weekends.

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