Small changes in the qualification system

Following the withdrawal of the Super-Aguri team from the F1 World Championship and consequently the withdrawal of two cars, the FIA has just confirmed that five cars will be excluded from the first part of the qualifying and then again five cars at the end of Q2.

The 2008 sporting regulations were drafted taking into account 24 cars with 7 single-seaters excluded during Q1 and 7 others during Q2, thus leaving 10 cars for the final session.

With the possibility where 22 single-seaters would start from the grid, which was ultimately the case in the first four races of the season, six cars were eliminated in Q1 and Q2. But a scenario where there would only be 20 cars was never considered.

But following discussions in Turkey, it was decided that five cars would be excluded during the first two qualifying phases.

A statement published by the FIA on Thursday evening announced: « The stewards, after receiving a report from the technical delegate, noted that only 20 cars would participate in the 2008 Turkish Grand Prix. »

« Consequently, under Article 33,1 of the 2008 Sporting Regulations, the Stewards have decided that only five cars will be excluded after Q1 and Q2 in qualifying. »

Although there are fewer cars eliminated during the first phase of qualifying, the absence of Super Aguri will make it more challenging for the teams working tirelessly to reach Q2. Indeed, the low level of the small Japanese team compared to the rest of the field boosted the other teams since two cars (the SA108s) would inevitably end up behind…