In the round-up: New gravel traps around the Losail circuit should help avoid the track limits problems of last year’s race, believes Lance Stroll
In brief
Losail gravel will prevent “mess” – Stroll
After 51 lap times were deleted in last year’s Qatar Grand Prix, Stroll believes that new gravel traps installed at several corner exits around the Losail circuit will help to avoid similar problems this weekend.
“I saw there’s some gravel traps now,” the Aston Martin driver told the official F1 channel. “It’s better than dealing with the pain of track limits in 18 corners or whatever the corner numbers are here.
“I think last year was a bit of a mess in the race, I remember. So hopefully it’s a better solution.”
Losail’s DRS zone shortened
The sole DRS zone at the Losail circuit has been reduced by 100 metres compared to last year’s Qatar Grand Prix.
The track features just a single DRS zone along its 5.4km lap length, with the activation point moved further up the pit straight by exactly 100 metres compared to 2023.
The detection zone for DRS remains the same as last year’s event, which was moved closer to the exit of the penultimate corner of turn 15 compared to the circuit’s inaugural grand prix in 2021.
Pourchaire handed Peugeot reserve role
Theo Pourchaire has been named as test and development driver for Peugeot’s hypercar project in the World Endurance Championship.
The 2023 Formula 2 champion will run in private tests in the 9X8 and will be called upon to replace any of the team’s race drivers if unavailable. He previously participated in the rookie test in Bahrain after the recent season finale for the team.
“The Peugeot 9X8 is a very powerful car, unlike anything I’ve driven before,” Pourchaire said. “Endurance cars are highly advanced and cutting-edge in terms of technology, making them similar to Formula 1 cars. Being a test driver is a fantastic opportunity, and I’m grateful to Peugeot for offering me this chance.”
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