LFormula 1 does not stop innovating this season. In the first place, the arrival of the sprint qualifying was proposed and approved, so as not to see the results of the race on Sunday clouded by a bad session on Saturday. The change allows the drivers to be more aggressive during the sprint as their position is secured for the race having qualified during the second session on Fridays.
Now, the leaders of Formula 1 propose new variations to continue attracting and entertaining fans. To do this, they propose a new classification during the session on Saturdays. For now, it’s just a experimental format to be tested during the Italian Grand Prix and the Hungarian Grand Prix.
All pilots with the same compound
In the first instance, the test was scheduled for the Imola Grand Prix, suspended last May due to the rains that devastated the area. The rules for this new classification are simple, each rider will only have one type of tire for each part of the session. Thus, the distribution will be as follows:
- In Q1 (18 minutes), the drivers will only use the hard tyre.
- In Q2 (15 minutes), the drivers will only be able to use the medium tyre.
- In Q3 (12 minutes), the drivers will only be able to use the soft tyre.
The measure seeks the equality of all the teams in the race when it comes to having all the tires. It should be noted that although all pilots are required to use the same type of compound, they are not required to use the same number. If the leading teams need fewer tries to qualify, they may have more new tires for the race.
Fernando Alonso, during the run-up to the Austrian Grand Prix, proposed going back to the traditional format: “There are different options to solve it, but one of them is a one-lap qualifying, as in the past, that would be ideal for me.”
Mario Isola, with people in charge of the FIA.
More news for the British GP
Another modification will take place next weekend. At the next race, at Silvertone, Pirelli will already introduce the new tires that the drivers tested in free practice for the Barcelona GP. “It will not have consequences on the behavior of the single-seaters on the track or on any of their technical parameters”affirmed Mario Isola, head of Pirelli.
The reason for choosing the British layout is the hardness of its asphalt. In addition, the circuit demands a lot from the front tyres, especially the left, due to the fast corners in that direction. “These tires provide an extra in tire fatigue. All the teams have already had the opportunity to test it and their indications are in accordance with our simulations.”
