The Saturday qualification system is evolving…

The FIA has confirmed a change in the qualifying system that will take effect from the start of the 2008 season.

There will be an extension of Q1 which will balance with a shortening of Q3. The changes will also more directly affect the teams as they will no longer be able to refuel their cars in Q3. Furthermore, drivers will start the Sunday race with the same amount of fuel present in the cars at the end of qualifying.

Those who do not manage to finish qualifying will be able to choose their fuel quantity at will, as usual.

Q3 has been reduced to 10 minutes, half of its initial duration of 20 minutes when this three-stage qualification system (Q1, Q2, Q3) was introduced in early 2006 (called knock-out).

The teams denounced an excessive and unnecessary use of fuel. This change is implemented to improve the sport’s image with the environment. This means that drivers will be able to complete a maximum of six laps during these ten minutes on circuits like Spa. This figure is to be compared to a total of 10 laps or more that drivers could complete in the year 2007.

The changes were confirmed in the latest version of the Sporting Regulations 2008, published on December 20. Q1 will run from 14:00 to 14:20, local time. Then Q2 will take place from 14:27 to 14:42. Q3 will then start at 14:50 for 10 minutes.

The method of eliminating drivers in Q1 and Q2 will not change with the exclusion of the 6 slowest drivers within a session. Q3 is therefore still considered the super pole with the presence of 10 drivers.