Formula 1 drivers will need to make at least two pit-stops at the Qatar Grand Prix.
The mandatory two-stop has been imposed after tyre suppliers Pirelli held talks with the teams and governing body FIA regarding driver safety.
Tyres have been restricted to a maximum length of 25 laps of the Lusail International Circuit.
As the race is 57 laps, it means that one pit-stop must be made, either on or before the 25th lap.
The 19-lap sprint race will be unaffected by the tyre restriction.
Laps to the grid, formation laps, and laps after the chequered flag are not counted in the 25-lap stint regulation, but laps behind the safety car or virtual safety car will.
For the 2023 edition, Pirelli enforced an 18-lap stint length because of concerns about tyre wear and damage which could be picked up during the race.
While there were no restrictions in place for tyres in 2024, Pirelli said the tyres used showed high levels of wear. Both Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz suffered punctures in that race.
Pirelli say the measure “has been deemed necessary” following analysis of the tyres used in 2024.
“Last year, several tyres, particularly the left front, had reached the maximum wear level,” Pirelli said.
“These conditions, combined with the high lateral energy, had increased the structural fatigue of the construction.”
This is the second occasion in the 2025 season where teams faced tyre restrictions.
At the Monaco Grand Prix, drivers had to make two mandatory pit-stops, imposed to improve on-track action.
