Ayo Komatsu did not hide his disappointment. “I do not agree with these artificial limits,” he said. “Pirelli is afraid after what happened last year. It’s obvious.” He was referring to 2023, when the Losail circuit caused micro-tears in the tires, forcing the FIA to introduce maximum stints of 18 laps. At that time, three stops were necessary.
Ayo Komatsu opposes Pirelli’s mandatory stop rule in Qatar
For Ayo Komatsu, this is not the right direction. “I don’t think it’s fair for the sport. There’s a lot of talk about avoiding one-stop races, but introducing an artificial rule destroys the race.”
Ayo Komatsu pointed to another model as an example. “Just look at Brazil and Mexico. Two exciting races. The reason is simple: the tires were on the edge between one and two stops, or between two and three stops.” According to the Japanese team principal, Formula 1 performs best when there are two possible strategies and both work. “It’s at that point that the best races happen. And that’s where Pirelli should aim.”
Ayo Komatsu also recalled the Losail precedent. “That race was terrible, wasn’t it?” “Everyone had the same pit stop window. When you do something artificial, this is what happens. No one is stupid. Everyone comes to the same conclusion.”
The same argument applies to the 2025 Monaco GP, where the rule designed to avoid a one-stop race failed to deliver the expected spectacle. “When you try to force something, you make it worse,” he added. The decision on a 25-lap maximum stint was agreed by Formula 1, the FIA, and the teams. Pirelli justified the choice with the need to avoid safety issues.
However, Ayo Komatsu fears the race could become predictable. For him, strategy should not be imposed from above. It must emerge naturally from the behavior of the tires. The discussion will remain open until the Qatar race weekend. It remains to be seen whether the race will indeed be safer or if it will confirm the concerns of the Haas team principal.
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