Following today’s meeting of the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Geneva, the first of 2016, several proposed regulations have come into being.
The first is that the new-for-2016 Formula 1 qualifying system “should” premiere for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, which takes place March 20.
The elimination style qualifying will see cars eliminated during a session, rather than the slowest five or six knocked out just at the end of the session as has been the case since 2006.
In case you need a reminder of how it all works, here’s the breakdown below, via the FIA:
The new elimination-style format:
Q1
- 16 minutes
- After 7 minutes, slowest driver eliminated
- Slowest driver eliminated every 1 minute 30 seconds thereafter until the checkered flag
- 7 drivers eliminated, 15 progress to Q2
Q2
- 15 minutes
- After 6 minutes, slowest driver eliminated
- Slowest driver eliminated every 1 minute 30 seconds thereafter until the checkered flag
- 7 drivers eliminated, 8 progress to Q3
Q3
- 14 minutes
- After 5 minutes, slowest driver eliminated
- Slowest driver eliminated every 1 minute 30 seconds thereafter until the checkered flag
- 2 drivers left in final 1 minute 30 seconds
The final elimination in each session occurs at the checkered flag – not when time is up.
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In terms of other key notes taken during the FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting:
- The WMSC agreed with the F1 Commission, to delay the finalizing of the 2017 F1 technical regulations until April 30.
- Early simulations should produce lap times 4 to 5 seconds per lap quicker at most circuits.
- The FIA Formula E Championship seeks a single battery and single chassis provider for its fifth season, which would be the 2018-2019 season.
