For this season, Formula 1 has decided to experiment with a different format for qualifying in two rounds of the calendar. As previously reported by Motorsport.com, the first test will take place at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola in May.
In an attempt to reduce the number of tires used in Grands Prix, the experiment involves reducing the Pirelli sets available to each driver from 13 to 11.
In qualifying, the drivers will be forced to use the hard tires in Q1, the medium ones in Q2 and the soft ones in Q3. If one of the sessions is declared wet, the choice of tires will be free.
In total, drivers will have access to three sets of hard tyres, four sets of medium compound tires and four sets of softs during the race weekend. This innovation, in the Formuka 1 vision, should ensure that the drivers use a wider variety of tires during the weekend, in order to reduce waste.
While it should be emphasized that the exercise is aimed at making the league more sustainable and not necessarily improving the show, the new format will not be prosecuted if the two trials during the 2023 season prove detrimental to the show.
Among the most skeptical about the experimental format is the reigning world champion, Max Verstappen, who has expressed his critical opinion regarding any modification of the popular format in use for over 15 years.
One of the elements brought to light by Verstappen concerns the use of the harder compounds in Q1, which could prove quite complicated given a slower warm-up phase, especially in cold conditions.
Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB18
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
“I hope it’s not cold at Imola, otherwise it will be very difficult,” said Verstappen.
“It’s the same for everyone, but I don’t think it’s necessary to do this kind of thing in qualifying. I don’t see the benefits.”
“It’s better to make sure all the cars are close together and more competitive, rather than spicing things up like this, which I think is probably for show,” explained the Red Bull driver.
Putting the aspect of sustainability into the background, Sergio Perez also argues that changes are not necessary from the point of view of entertainment.
“I think there’s no need if you see the qualifying we did [in Bahrain]how close we all were,” said the Mexican. “We don’t need to change anything.”
“But we’ll see, we’ll see when we try it, but I don’t think there’s a need to change something that’s working well.”
Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari at the press conference
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
However, it wasn’t just the Red Bull drivers who expressed their point of view on the matter, because Charles Leclerc also believes there’s no need to change the format: “Yes, I don’t think there’s a need to change, but let’s try and let’s see”.
Having six sets available for qualifying and just five for free practice and the race means that the reduction in tires will have a knock-on effect on the practice sessions as well.
Initial analysis from the engineers suggests that the teams will likely use just one set of softs in FP2 and FP3, so that two sets of fresh softs can be kept for Q3.
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