Track limits have become a major talking point again this weekend following a surprise FIA statement.
On Saturday morning, the FIA announced that track limits had been brought in by 80cm at Turn 12 and 13 after Pirelli identified tears between the compound topping and tyre carcass.
This was caused by drivers running long and fast over revised kerbs at the Losail Circuit, which feature 50mm raised ‘pyramid-style’ borders that impact the tyre when they drop over the edge.
As such, an extra 10-minute practice session was added to the schedule for drivers to adjust to the revised permitter. However, track limit breaches still peppered the 19-lap sprint contest.
Ferrari driver Leclerc and Aston Martin’s Stroll have now been hit with five-second penalties, with both drivers found to have left the track on four occasions “without justifiable reason”.
As a result, Leclerc has dropped from seventh to 12th and Stroll from 13th to 15th – last of the finishers in an attrition-hit contest that ended with five retirements.
Alex Albon inherits seventh place and scores two points for Williams, while Fernando Alonso moves into the final points paying position for Aston Martin.
Following the sprint, Pirelli will now conduct extensive tyre analysis to determine whether further action must be taken in time for the 57-lap grand prix.
If the tearing problem is still identified, the FIA will mandate that the tyre life must not exceed 20 laps for new tyres and 22 laps for used tyres fitted in the race - this accounts for in and out-laps in qualifying.
It will also obligate three pitstops. Although the tyres could theoretically go the distance with two stops, an extra had been added to ensure some element of strategic divergence from teams.
McLaren rookie Oscar Piastri won the sprint race ahead of Max Verstappen, who sealed his third world championship as team-mate Sergio Perez was involved in a multi-car collision.
