F1 team boss suggests ‘better’ solution to major Qatar GP issue

11:57, 28 Nov

Updated: 12:12, 28 Nov

bySamson Ero

Haas F1 team principal Ayao Komatsu has put forward a clear solution to the tyre-limit rule imposed by Pirelli and the FIA for the Qatar Grand Prix.

“You can design and produce an effective under-layer.”

- Ayao Komatsu

Speaking to GPBlog during the Qatar Grand Prix weekend, the 49-year-old team boss said Pirelli should focus on developing a more robust under-layer for its tyres to prevent the excessive wear seen at the Lusail circuit. Komatsu also stressed that the degradation issues raise genuine safety concerns.

“I’m not a tyre designer, but I’ve seen it before that you can design and produce an effective under-layer. If they avoid that wear while completely wearing the tyre out, which then may result in a puncture, of course, it’s a safety issue. It’s not good,” he said.

Reiterating his claim of not being a fan of what he labels an artificially imposed ruling on races, the Japanese team boss continued:

Haas team boss, Ayao Komatsu in Qatar - Photo: Race Pictures

“But I think that’s their job, to produce that kind of non-linear deg. I’m just never fond of setting those artificial limits, forcing a number of stops. I don’t think it works.”

“I get Pirelli is concerned. They weren’t expecting people to do so many laps here last year on the front-left tyre; I think it was at the limit in terms of wear, so I get their concern.”

“If that was the issue, I think you should produce or revise your tyre design or compound the under-layer. But it’s not my job to design tyres. It’s their job to design tyres,” he concluded.

In the lead-up to the Qatar Grand Prix, the Haas team boss had expressed his concerns over the tyre stint imposed by Pirelli and the FIA for the Lusail race. Komatsu labelled the rule as destroying the Grand Prix.

He also referenced the Mexico City Grand Prix and the Brazil race as events that needed no artificial ruling to be exciting.

Komatsu: Pirelli tyre degradation issues not a good thing

Komatsu concluded by stating that the issues Pirelli has with its tyres for the Qatar race are not a good thing. He also highlighted the need to find a lasting solution, explaining that the tyre-stint limit isn’t good enough to mitigate the problem.

“The fact that the tyre has no degradation when you hit 100 per cent wear is not a good thing. I’m sure Pirelli agrees it’s not a good thing.”

“I don’t know why they struggle, but they’ve done it before, so I’d like to think they can mitigate it with such a mechanism,” Komatsu concluded.

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