Piastri Secures Pole for Qatar GP with Mandatory Two-Stop Rule

Oscar Piastri secured pole position for the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix on Saturday, setting the stage for a championship showdown at the Lusail International Circuit, where a new tyre rule mandates at least two pit stops for all drivers in the 57-lap race.

The regulation, introduced by Pirelli in consultation with the FIA, Formula 1, and the teams, limits each set of tyres to a maximum of 25 laps across the entire weekend, including practice, qualifying, the sprint race, and the grand prix. This cumulative cap counts all laps started after the session's start signal and before its end, excluding reconnaissance and formation laps. Incomplete laps are treated as full laps, and for mixed compounds on a single axle, the limit is determined by the tyre with the most usage. Pirelli will provide teams with documents outlining remaining laps for each driver's sets before Sunday's race.

The rule addresses the circuit's abrasive surface and high-energy corners, which accelerate tyre wear, particularly on the front left. Analysis of last year's event revealed tyres reaching critical wear levels, risking punctures similar to those that affected drivers in 2021 and 2024. In 2023, an 18-lap...