Sunday, March 12, 2006

Confusing qualifying rules for 2006 F1

Confused? So are the teams. Some of the new format is excellent. Some is just plain daft.
This is a summary of the most important points of the 2006 F1 qualifying regime.
2005: single lap qualifying: no tyre changes, changes during qualifying but parc ferme after sessions, no refuelling during or after qualifying.
2006: three sessions in one hour, tyre changes and refuelling permitted at specified times, parc ferme during and after qualifying for all but wing adjustment and tyre changes.

Session 1: 15 minutes. All cars take part. Last six are fixed in position according to time. These positions will change only if a competitor changes an engine before the race and goes to the back of the grip, so "promoting" those already positioned. When session time ends, the current lap is lost. Car may be refuelled and new tyres fitted after the session.

Session 2: 15 minutes. All cars except those "fixed" in session one take part. Previous times do not count. Last six in this group are fixed in position according to time. These positions will change only if a competitor changes an engine before the race and goes to the back of the grip, so "promoting" those already positioned. When session time ends, the current lap is lost. Car may be refuelled and new tyres fitted after the session.

Session 3. 20 minutes. Top 10 cars start with race load of fuel. For each lap completed during this session, cars are allowed to add fuel at the end of the session at a rate determined from race to race to take account of estimated average fuel consumption at that track.

For Bahrain, the amount was 2.75 kg of fuel per lap completed. Tyre changes are permitted during this session. When session ends, current lap counts for time.

Engines must last for two races. There are seven sets of tyres permitted for a whole qualifying / race weekend.

1 comment:

Sash Sheen said...

Ignorance is bliss