The FIA and Pirelli have made big changes to the Lusail International Circuit for the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix to avoid the tyre problems that caused issues in 2023.

Last year, the sharp shape of the kerbs in the fast sections of the track damaged the tyres, creating small cuts that weakened them. This led the FIA to set a maximum stint of 18 laps per set of tyres during the race to prevent high-speed failures.

To fix this, the kerbs at seven corners, including Turns 1, 2, 4, 10, and the tricky sequence from Turns 12 to 14, have been smoothed out. The sharp tips have been rounded off to reduce tyre stress. Gravel traps have also been added in some areas to stop drivers from going too far off the track, making things safer.

Pirelli tested the changes through simulations and on-track sessions with teams, including Mercedes, to make sure the tyres can handle the updated track.

For this race, they’ve chosen their toughest tyres—the C1 hard, C2 medium, and C3 soft—often used at demanding tracks like Suzuka and Silverstone. Even with these precautions, Pirelli expects some tyre wear due to the heat, which can cause the tyres to degrade faster.