New FIA race director issues MANDATORY rule for all teams at

New FIA race director issues MANDATORY rule for all teams at Qatar Grand Prix……read more

The FIA has introduced a new mandatory rule for all teams ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix, as part of efforts to address concerns over slow driving during qualifying sessions. This comes as the Formula 1 season nears its climax, with the Qatar GP being the penultimate race of 2024. While Max Verstappen has already secured the Drivers’ Championship, the Constructors’ Championship remains highly competitive. McLaren leads Ferrari by 24 points, with Red Bull trailing in third, 53 points behind McLaren.

For the Qatar GP weekend, which follows the sprint format, the FIA has enforced the rule to prevent drivers from slowing down unnecessarily during the qualifying sessions. This behavior has been a point of controversy throughout the 2024 season, with drivers sometimes deliberately driving slowly in order to create space for their hot lap. This often results in a chaotic scene where drivers jostle for position, even racing each other into corners to gain an advantage before starting their flying laps.

New F1 race director Rui Marques has taken action to curb this problem, introducing a rule that mandates all drivers to maintain a minimum lap time during both sprint qualifying and main race qualifying sessions. Specifically, drivers must complete their laps in under 1:40.0 between the safety car lines that are marked on the pit lane drawing. This applies not only to the main qualifying laps but also to reconnaissance laps and any laps taken after the end of sprint qualifying or main race qualifying, as well as during the pit exit phase for both the sprint race and the main race.

This measure is designed to prevent the disruptive practice of drivers deliberately holding back their pace to gain a better position for their hot laps. By ensuring that all drivers maintain a reasonable pace, the FIA aims to make the qualifying sessions more orderly and reduce any unnecessary interference on track. Any driver found to be in violation of the new rule could face penalties, adding a new layer of accountability during these crucial qualifying moments.

The decision by the FIA reflects a broader push for improved discipline and fairness in F1, especially with the intense competition seen this season. As the battle for the Constructors’ Championship intensifies, this new rule ensures that the focus remains on performance, not on tactical slow driving that can disrupt the flow of the sessions. Teams and drivers alike will have to adapt quickly to this mandatory rule, which is expected to influence the strategies employed throughout the weekend’s competitive sessions.

In conclusion, the introduction of the mandatory minimum lap time rule at the Qatar Grand Prix is a significant step in refining the flow and fairness of qualifying sessions. With the pressure on both drivers and teams mounting as the season concludes, this rule aims to ensure that the focus stays on the on-track action rather than off-track tactics designed to create space for faster laps.