F1 | FIA changes qualifying format again: what’s new for the 2026 season
With the entry of Cadillac into Formula 1, the FIA has decided to revise the qualifying format for the 2026 season. Let’s take a closer look at the changes that will affect the grid and the new championship.
This is arguably the biggest novelty of the upcoming season. Beyond the impact of the new technical regulations, which could significantly shake up the established order on the grid, 2026 will see a new team join the championship, forcing the FIA to make key adjustments to the qualifying procedure. The addition of two more cars meant that the Federation had to revise certain aspects of the session used to determine the starting grid for each Grand Prix.
Until recently, qualifying was divided into three sessions: Q1, Q2, and Q3. In each mini-session, five cars were eliminated, leaving the final ten to compete for pole position. Now, with the return to the grid of Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas driving for Cadillac, these elimination numbers have been adjusted.
What changes in 2026 F1 qualifying
The division into Q1, Q2, and Q3 remains the same. What changes is the number of cars eliminated in each session:
- Q1: Out of 22 starting cars, only 16 advance → 6 eliminated
- Q2: Out of the remaining 16 cars, only 10 advance to Q3 → 6 eliminated
- Q3: The remaining 10 cars will battle for pole position
The duration of Q3 and the break between Q2 and Q3 have also been slightly adjusted:
- Q1: remains 18 minutes
- Q2: remains 15 minutes, followed by a 7-minute break (compared to 8 minutes in 2025)
- Q3: increases from 12 to 13 minutes
The same changes will apply to weekends featuring the Sprint format. During Sprint Qualifying, the sessions SQ1, SQ2, and SQ3 will follow the same elimination numbers as the standard qualifying format.
The expansion to an 11-team grid represents a historic shift for Formula 1, and the FIA’s updated qualifying format is a necessary evolution to maintain the “knockout” drama fans have come to love. By increasing the number of eliminations in Q1 and Q2 to six, the pressure on the midfield teams will be higher than ever, as the margin for error effectively shrinks with more talent fighting for the same ten spots in the final shootout. The extra minute added to Q3 is a subtle but welcome change, potentially allowing for more strategic out-laps or a final “do-or-die” attempt in an era where energy management will be a critical factor in a flying lap.
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