FIA Changes F1 Qualifying Rules - Again

Yet another change in the qualifying rules for Formula One after both teams and drivers expressed their dissatisfaction over current rules that have the side effect of hampering qualifiers who are on their flying lap. This happens when slowing cars who are concerned with saving fuel severely slow those on their flying laps, as seen in the most recent GP in Malaysia. McLaren were the most headlined ‘victims’ of penalties imposed for impeding other drivers during their qualifying, which the Anglo-German team denied doing deliberately.

So a maximum time limit is to be imposed on drivers for their in-laps, which is going to be 120 percent of the driver’s quickest timed lap.

“Our clarification to the teams and drivers will be that cars returning to the pits having completed their flying lap or laps will be required to do so within a time that we will set,” an FIA spokesman revealed.

“This could be approximately 120 percent of the normal time as we do to prevent drivers going very slowly to the grid to save fuel.”

Source: F1Live