Pirelli reveals Hamilton and Sainz’s tyre failures at Qatar GP resulted from excessive wear, not debris

Pirelli has revealed the shocking cause of the F1 tyre failures that ended Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz’s races at last year’s Qatar Grand Prix. An investigation presented to F1 teams confirmed that the front-left tyres collapsed due to extreme wear, rather than debris or kerb damage.

During the race at Losail, both drivers suffered near-simultaneous punctures, initially sparking theories that Valtteri Bottas running over Alex Albon’s discarded mirror had sent sharp fragments flying into their paths. However, telemetry data crushed that assumption, proving that both tyres had already begun failing before hitting the debris field.

Mercedes trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin had hinted at the truth months ago, saying: “Surprisingly, we can see Lewis start to lose pressure prior to the mirror being hit by Valtteri. It’s unlikely to be a debris puncture.” Now, Pirelli’s deep-dive analysis at their Milan headquarters has confirmed it: the tyres were simply pushed beyond their limits.

The Real Cause: A Race Against Wear

Unlike other circuits, Qatar’s ultra-high grip surface doesn’t cause tyres to overheat and degrade gradually. Instead, it ruthlessly grinds them down, especially through its relentless high-speed corners. The front-left tyre takes the brunt of the punishment, and once it reaches 100% wear, a catastrophic failure becomes inevitable.

During the Qatar sprint race, some teams found their tyres hitting that critical point after just 19 laps—even with reduced fuel loads. Hamilton and Sainz, aiming to extend their stints in case of a safety car, were rolling the dice on worn-out rubber by lap 35 of the 57-lap race. The gamble didn’t pay off.

What Happens Next?

The findings have sparked fresh discussions between Pirelli and the FIA about preventing future disasters. One potential solution could be adjusting tyre allocations, shifting one step softer so degradation sets in before tyres hit their structural breaking point. However, a mandatory stint length, like the one imposed in 2023, seems unlikely for now.

While Pirelli’s investigation clears the kerbs and debris from blame, it also serves as a harsh reality check for teams. In a sport where fractions of a second matter, pushing tyres past their safe limit might be a risk they can no longer afford to take.