Mario Isola: The 25-lap limit worked as intended

      In Qatar, Pirelli limited the maximum stint length on a single set of tyres to 25 laps, which nullified the strategic factor but helped avoid a repeat of last year’s punctures on the abrasive asphalt…

      Mario Isola, Pirelli’s head of motorsport: "All strategic decisions in today’s race were dictated by the deployment of the safety car. The Medium tyres proved a good compromise, providing sufficient grip and high speed throughout the stint.

      Although almost all the drivers used the Hards only on the final stint, the C1 compound also demonstrated its effectiveness, at times allowing even greater speed than C2.

      Compared with previous days, graining was noticeably less, which reduced instances of severe wear but did not eliminate them completely. As a result, it was proved that the 25‑lap limit is quite sufficient to avoid any problems.

      The thrilling intrigue of this race and the new track records set throughout the weekend indicate that competition has been fiercer all season than ever before. So, perhaps it is no surprise that the fate of the title will be decided at the final round, where three very worthy rivals will wage the decisive battle."