The shape of qualifying in Formula 1 could look very different from next year

The shape of qualifying in Formula 1 could look very different from next year, after it was claimed that Saturday action could be split into four sessions. Auto Motor und Sport have reported that Liberty Media plans to add a Q4 to qualifying as early as 2019.

Qualifying is currently split into three sections, five drivers dropping out in Q1 and Q2 respectively before Q3 decides the order of the top 10, and pole position with it.

AMuS have reported that Q4 will decide the top eight drivers and pole position, but the make-up of the remaining sessions is yet to be determined.

Qualifying regulations were under the microscope at the Singapore Grand Prix – with the top 10’s tyres locked according to the compound they used in Q2 at all races.

While the likes of Sergio Perez, Romain Grosjean, Esteban Ocon and Nico Hulkenberg were at risk – despite qualifying in the top 10 – as they had to start the race on the fragile hypersoft tyre, while those just behind on the grid were able to run longer off the line.

Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz Jr promptly jumped from 11th and 12th on the grid to seventh and eighth at the chequered flag without breaking much of a sweat.

After finishing 15th, Grosjean said: “I think it was a frustrating race for everyone who qualified between seventh and 10th on the hypersofts.

“It was such a poor tyre in the race. We did 10 laps and they completely went, while the ultrasofts did, I don’t know how many laps, 40? So, it’s almost better not to qualify in the top 10.

“Maybe we need to think about that a little bit because I felt like I pushed really hard in qualifying and in the race every single lap. I did the best I could but, in the end, I had no chance of being in the top 10.”

There is no suggestion from AMuS that this regulation will be up for change if there is a change in rules next year.

The current knockout system of qualifying has been in place since 2006, save for a brief dalliance with a ‘one-by-one’ format in 2016 that was soon shelved after a farcical debut in Australia.