F1 News: Guenther Steiner Slams F1 For Tyre Debacle At Qatar Grand Prix

Guenther Steiner expressed stern criticism over the FIA’s handling of tyre and kerb issues at the Qatar Grand Prix.

In a stark critique following the tyre issues at the Qatar Grand Prix, Haas team principal Guenther Steiner expressed his vehement disapproval of the FIA’s handling of the situation. Steiner’s frustration emanated from the unexpected kerb-related tyre damages and the seemingly abrupt changes in the race weekend format, which he deemed “embarrassing” for the pinnacle of motorsport.

Key Takeaways

• Abrupt Changes and Criticisms: The FIA introduced several alterations to the Qatar Grand Prix weekend, including innovative track limit solutions and new racing regulations, in response to tyre issues and driver offences, aiming to enhance safety and maintain competitive integrity. However, these changes, especially those related to kerbs and tyre safety, were met with criticism from various F1 teams and personnel, notably Guenther Steiner.
• Steiner’s Outspoken Discontent: Steiner voiced his concerns and dissatisfaction with the FIA’s approach, stating, “It’s not right. I don’t know where the history of these new kerbs come from but it just came up out of the blue.” He highlighted that the kerbs, which were supposed to be developed to prevent tyre damage, were ironically causing it, and emphasized that such issues should not occur in Formula One.
• Safety and Accountability Questions: While the FIA has been proactive in trying to mitigate further issues, such as changing track limits to avoid problematic kerbs, questions regarding accountability and the efficacy of the implemented solutions linger. Steiner pointed out the necessity of inspecting tracks for safety reasons and emphasized that tyres are a crucial safety item on a race car, thereby underscoring the gravity of the situation.

F1 News: FIA Introduces Changes to Qatar Grand Prix Amidst Tyre Concerns - Sprint Postponed

Steiner’s frustration was palpable as he navigated through the media’s queries, highlighting a scenario that seemed to have caught several teams off-guard. 

“They were supposed to develop some kerbs that don’t damage the tyres, but apparently the kerbs we have developed damage the tyres,” he lamented, pointing towards a glaring issue that was supposed to have been mitigated by the FIA’s interventions.

“There was some signs already here two years ago, we had issues but they were different kerbs.” 

His words not only reflected a concern for the present situation but also cast a shadow over the future races, especially considering the ten-year contract that the Lusail International Circuit has with Formula 1.

The FIA’s changes, which included the implementation of half-and-half concrete blocks to curb the abuse of track limits and a series of revised track limits and regulations, were ostensibly aimed at ensuring a fair and safe race with track limits in mind. However, the unexpected tyre issues threw a wrench into the works, prompting further changes and adjustments to the race weekend, such as an additional practice session, sprint schedule adjustments, and new tyre life parameters.

Steiner, while critical, also acknowledged the proactive steps taken:

“At least they are proactively doing something for tomorrow and now going out changing some of the track limits so that we are not going over these kerbs should help a little bit.” 

However, the question of accountability remained, with Steiner noting:

“I don’t know exactly who. I think the FIA is inspecting the race track, I think FOM is not in charge of that one.”