Tyres key to possible F1 qualifying changes

The current rule stating an F1 driver must start the race on the same tyres he qualified could be scrapped with immediate effect at a meeting between the FIA and the teams to be held on 21 February.

Last year, with increasing prevalence, we saw drivers choosing to sit out of the final qualifying session in order to gain free choice of tyres on which to start the race. A smart strategic move, but seeing only a handful of cars bother to set a lap time in a top-10 shootout is not a great spectacle.

According to Autosport some possible outcomes include making a driver use the tyres used to set his Q2 time to start the race. The theory being drivers will want to push to make the final Q3 session 10 rather than risk falling as low as P16 on the starting grid.

Although, from a pure entertainment viewpoint, an alternative approach to allow Pirelli to supply a dedicated qualifying tyre which is used only in Q3 has the most merit. If drivers know they can attack Q3 with impunity as far as tyre strategy for the race goes they are more likely to light up the track in the chase for pole position.

There’s also talk Q3 could be extended from its current 10 minute limit to better allow drivers to post two flying laps with less chance of coming across slower traffic.

For any of these changes to be approved all teams will need to sign-off unanimously, before being presented to the FIA and its World Motor Sport Council for ratification.

In the unlikely event that all teams put the betterment of the sport ahead of any competitive shyness the changes could come into effect before the Australian Grand Prix in mid-March.

[Source: Autosport]