F1 Teams reject proposal to scrap Q3 tyre rule

Formula 1 teams have rejected the plan to scrap the rule that restricts half the grid to have to start on old tyres that have already been used.

The rule was implemented in 2010 and made it so that that drivers that reached Q3 had to start a race on tyres already used.

“There was a proposal to remove the rule that obliges the top 10 to start with the tyres using in quali but it was not approved. At this point of the year you need unanimity to change the rules for next year, no changes are planned.” Said Pirelli motorsport director Mario Isola.

At first the tyres used in Q3 were the ones that the top ten had to start on. But in 2014 the rules changed so that the tyres used in Q2 would be the ones that they start on. This left midfield teams able to avoid running in Q2 to allow the to start on fresh tyres for the race. Giving them an advantage.

Pirelli thinks it can ensure drivers in Q2 to run by using tyres that are more conservative to encourage softer ones to be used in qualifying.

“If we go a bit more conservative in the selection I think that in quali there is no reason to try to use the medium, the one in the middle, instead of the softest, because the advantage is probably less.”

Isola also explained about the idea of increasing the mandatory number of pit stops could improve racing, but also could not work so well.

“I’m not sure it’s the right solution because there is the big risk that everybody stops on the same lap, or very close, so basically you are just generating shorter stints where probably drivers can push more. They can use the softest available compound because the stints are shorter but there is no variation in the strategies.”