More spectacular qualifications in 2014?

Since the introduction of Pirelli tires, whose lifespan and performance window have been reduced to enhance the race spectacle, the three-part qualifying sessions have witnessed astonishing scenes: since 2011, it has become common to see some drivers, knowing they are unable to be among the top 5 or 6, not even participate in the final part of qualifying, Q3, to save a precious set of tires. This situation sometimes even limits the top drivers who are vying for their grid positions on a single lap.

Autosport reveals that the FIA and the teams will meet on February 21, during the first winter tests in Bahrain (from February 19 to 22), with the aim of trying to agree on a modification of the qualifying rules, in order to restore the spectacular and competitive aspect of Q3 as early as 2014. This new meeting would be a response to the meeting of the F1 Strategic Group last January, where several voices expressed concerns that the situation of recent seasons could worsen.

Currently, the top 10 drivers at the end of Q2 fight for the pole during Q3. The best time set by a driver in this session determines his starting position as well as the tire set with which he will start the race. However, when a driver does not set a time, he can, like the drivers eliminated in Q1 and Q2, choose the type of tires with which he will start. This rule thus gives an additional reason for a driver, knowing he cannot compete for the front rows on merit, to opt for an optimal race strategy at the expense of qualifying.

Several proposals could be made during this meeting to encourage drivers to take off and fight for the best time. Thus, a first solution could be to require drivers qualified for Q3 to start with the tires they used to set their Q2 time. In this case, there would be no interest in using the slower tires as part of a race strategy starting from Q3.

Moreover, since this solution does not eliminate the problem of the set of tires used in Q3 that could be saved, the possibility could be considered of allocating additional sets of tires to Q3 drivers that could only be used during this final part of the session and would then be returned to the FIA. Under these conditions, there would no longer be any reason not to participate in Q3, and it would enhance the spectacle. Pirelli has always been supportive of this solution.

A final consideration would be to extend the duration of Q3 « to ensure that drivers have enough time to complete two timed stints, » points out Autosport. It should nonetheless be noted that, generally, it is more a problem of tires than a problem of time that prompts drivers to do only one flying lap, or even none.

In order for such regulatory changes to come into effect, they must be unanimously approved by the teams during the meeting. If that is the case, the proposal will be reviewed by the F1 Commission and the World Motor Sport Council for ratification before the first Grand Prix of the season in Melbourne on March 16. So nothing is set in stone yet.