The exit kerbs on the two newly-reprofiled corners, Turns 5 and 9, have been modified following suggestions from drivers, groups and tyre provider Pirelli.
The sharp peaks of the second row of the double kerbs have now been rounded off at each corners, making them much less aggressive.
The kerbs have been mentioned at Friday evening’s FIA drivers’ briefing, with contributors suggesting that they need to be altered in order that they could possibly be used extra.
Groups have been extra involved about potential automotive harm within the wake of the incidents in Qatar, the place many automobiles suffered over the course of the weekend, and Nikita Mazepin’s chassis was broken past fast restore.
4 drivers additionally suffered tyre failures within the Qatar race, which Pirelli later decided have been a results of constant kerb strikes as tyres wore down and have become extra weak.
Nicholas Latifi, Williams FW43B, heads into retirement with a puncture in Qatar
Picture by: Charles Coates / Motorsport Photos
After Friday’s first follow periods in Abu Dhabi, Pirelli’s F1 boss Mario Isola expressed the corporate’s issues to the FIA.
“They’re very related [to Qatar], they aren’t precisely the identical,” mentioned Isola. “Particularly they’re fairly aggressive on the exit of Flip 5 and Flip 9.
“They’re essentially the most aggressive. From Flip 1 to 4 they’re the identical as final 12 months, after which we’re completely different kerbs Turns 12, 13, 14, 15.
“The exit of Flip 16 is identical because the final 12 months. So now we have variations in comparison with this 12 months, and they’re extra aggressive.
“There are additionally completely different kerbs on the apex of the corners, however clearly the apex is completely different. To begin with, as a result of you might have the unloaded tyres on the automotive which can be on the apex.
“And second as a result of the drivers can handle to not run an excessive amount of on the apex, whereas I’m extra frightened concerning the exit kerbs, particularly in Turns 5 and 9, which can be essentially the most aggressive.
“We noticed from free follow each in F2 and F1 that they’re operating particularly over the kerbs and the exit of Flip 9, that can also be the flip with the best velocity.
“And I am certain that in qualifying they’ll use the kerbs and possibly additionally in the course of the race in the event that they push in the course of the races. So there’s this component that now we have to contemplate.”
