Trouble at Qatar GP: Qualifying for the sprint had to be delayed

The reduced qualifying (‘sprint shootout’) that will configure the starting grid for this Saturday’s night sprint at the Qatar Grand Prix – where the Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull) will be mathematically proclaimed triple Formula One world champion – it is delayed by twenty minutes, so instead of four in the afternoon – three in the Central European time – it will start at four twenty (twenty three Spanish peninsular time) .

Pirelli, The sole tire supplier, after checking the tires used on Friday in the first and only free practice, found that those used for more than 20 laps did not meet all the relevant safety parameters, so in turn it was decided to raise the limits. of track at two of the Lusail circuit’s 16 corners, where the ‘piano’ boundaries can be too corrosive.

In this way, the direction of the race will allow the drivers to go out on the track in advance for ten minutes, to familiarize themselves with the new layout.

In view of the long race on Sunday, scheduled for 57 laps (this Saturday’s sprint is a third of the way, that is, 19), it is not excluded, for greater safety, to introduce the extraordinary obligation to carry out even three stops to change a tire.

In a normal race the only rule is to use at least two different compounds, so there are tests that are resolved in a pit stop.

SA Verstappena well-known World Cup leader, three points will be enough for him to mathematically become world champion, for the third year in a row, tonight.

As the first eight points (eight for the first, seven for the second and so on until the eighth, which earned one), the Dutch star would have been better off finishing sixth; and he will also be crowned even if nothing is added: as long as his partner, the Mexican Sergio Pérez – whom he leads by 177 points – does not finish the reduced test in the first three.