MARANELLO (MODENA) (ITALPRESS) – “The motivations are at the most and we are determined to close the season in the best possible way”. Word of Fred Vasseur, team principal of Ferrari in view of the Qatar Grand Prix at Lusail International Circuit, also the sixth and final weekend Sprint of the World Championship 2025. The real novelty of the 2025 race is represented by the tires. In Qatar, in fact, every set of tires can be used for a maximum of 25 overall laps, counted throughout the weekend. With 57 laps of race, the rule therefore implies at least two mandatory stops, while the teams must constantly monitor the number of remaining turns for each set.
“After a challenging weekend in Las Vegas, we arrive in Qatar fully concentrated and with the desire to return immediately on the track – adds Vasseur – Lusail is a very different circuit, with high speed curves that test both the car and the driver, while the new limit imposed by Pirelli adds an additional strategic element. We are focused on ourselves and seizing all the opportunities that the last Sprint weekend of the season will offer us.”.
Speaking of the tire limit, Cameron Roberts, Ferrari race strategy operations manager, believes that “the teams have different scenarios to choose from. On the one hand stop early and keep track position, on the other stretch the stints hoping in the entrance of the Safety Car. This second possibility is undoubtedly the most risky choice but also allows potentially to gain different positions. With shorter stints, instead, drivers have the freedom to push more without having to worry about doing tyre management, but against this choice narrows the options available to strategists and makes it even more important to make a good qualification because in Qatar passing is not easy”. According to Roberts “we could see something similar to what was seen in Qatar 2023, i.e. drivers pushing more without having to handle too much tires, since they have to complete shorter stints than usual. We should have a first taste of this already in the Sprint, where the drivers will probably push to the maximum for all 19 laps.”.
– Photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
