Rumors

'New qualifying will be tested for the first time during this race'

'New qualifying will be tested for the first time during this race'

04-03-2023 10:53 Last update: 12:39
2

GPblog.com

A different qualifying format will be experimented with twice this year. With this, F1 hopes to have to bring fewer tyres to GP weekends. Latest rumours say the first tests with the format will take place in Imola.

'First test in Imola'

During the Imola GP weekend in May, we could expect the first test of the new qualification. So reports Motorsport.com. The medium says there is no official confirmation yet, but sources have already made this known. Testing in Imola will then be a weekend where teams will receive only 11 sets of tyres from Pirelli instead of 13.

To make this possible, tyre selection during qualifying will be restricted. The FIA will regulate it per qualifying lap. In Q1, drivers will have to drive with the hard tyre, in Q2 only the mediums will be available and in Q3 drivers will have to go out on the softs. Only in rain is tyre choice free.

Less freedom in tyre choice

In this experiment, each driver is allocated the same number and sets of tyres: Three hards, four mediums and four softs. In an ideal situation, six sets of tyres will be released for qualifying and only five for free practice and the race. So the expectations are that the first tests will take place in Imola. For the second tests, a race is probably going to be picked around the winter break so that there is enough time for all parties to analyse.