New qualifying format to be tested during race weekend in Imola

A new qualifying format in Formula 1 is set to be tested at Imola, Pirelli announced, with the new format supposedly providing a greater challenge for the drivers.

It had been speculation for some time, but Pirelli has now confirmed that the new qualifying format will be tested at Imola. Currently, qualifying still has a free choice of tyres, but this will change. In Q1, drivers will have to qualify on the hard tyre. In Q2, they will have to qualify on the medium tyre. And in Q3, they will have the soft tyre.

In addition to these changes, Pirelli also confirmed, as GPblog previously reported, that the number of tyre sets that can be used will go from 13 to 11. The same goes for the previously announced rain tyres that can be used without tyre warmers.

The entire weekend format of the sprint race may also be altered from the next Grand Prix onwards. This would involve separate qualifying sessions, one for the sprint race, and then one for the race on Sunday. So two qualifying sessions and two races in one weekend, leaving only one practice.

The new changes are receiving criticism from some drivers. Max Verstappen told the press conference last week: "It’s the same for everyone, but I don't think we need to actually do these kinds of things in qualifying. I don't really see the benefit of it. It's better if we make sure that all the cars are close to each other and more competitive instead of spicing things up in that way, which I think is probably for the show."

Teammate Sergio Pérez is also critical: "I think we don't need that when you see the qualifying we had (in Bahrain), how close everything was. We do not really need to change anything." The qualifying format will be tested again later in the season. When this will be is not yet known.