Vasseur praises FIA after Qatar intervention

Ferrari Team Principal Frederic Vasseur has praised FIA for its intervention during the Qatar Grand Prix weekend.

Pirelli noted that damage was found on the tyre compounds after Friday running at the Lusail International Circuit which resulted in precautionary measures being introduced for the Grand Prix.

Each set that a driver had brought to the weekend had a maximum stint length of 18 laps imposed on them for the race.

The drivers were therefore subject to a minimum of three pit stops during the Grand Prix in the interest of safety.

Vasseur has applauded FIA for taking action in order to protect the drivers from high-speed punctures, despite the limitations it presented on the strategy side of operations.

“I think the reaction was quite good,” he told media including RacingNews365.

“At the end of the day, it's always, for me, safety first.

“We were not sure and to have this kind of reaction, we did a good race. It was a good show.

“And I would say that the reaction was very appropriate. [But] now it's a bit of a shame to be in the situation.”

Vasseur's frustration

However, Vasseur has stated that questions must be asked about how the situation arose when F1 had experience at the venue, having visited it for the first time in 2021.

“It's a frustration for sure because this situation is not ideal that we are working to prepare for the weekend,” he said.

“We have the Friday, we have our run plan to prepare the long stint and to save these kinds of tyres and so on and in the end, you said no, no that you change completely the plan

“It’s not ideal for sure, but I think the situation is like it is but we'll have to discuss how we could arrive in this kind of situation on a track that we know.”