Austin: The qualifying format should be revised
The format of the qualifying session for the United States Grand Prix, taking place this weekend at the Circuit of the Americas, is expected to be modified to address the absence of the Caterham and Marussia teams, which leaves the grid with only 18 cars participating.
This weekend, for the United States Grand Prix, only 18 cars will run during the free practice sessions, qualifying, and the race instead of the usual 22 due to the temporary absence of the Caterham and Marussia teams.
If this should not have an impact during the free practice and the race, things should be slightly modified for the qualifying session. Indeed, usually, with 22 cars involved, 6 are eliminated in Q1 and another 6 at the end of Q2. But with 18 cars, if things remain as they are, only 2 drivers would be eliminated at the end of the first part – or even just one because Sebastian Vettel has already announced his intention not to participate in the qualifying session in Austin due to a power unit change that should have him start from the pit lane.
The regulations provide for the elimination of 4 cars in Q1 and 4 in Q2 in the case of a grid composed of 18 cars, but for the championship and not for a single event like this weekend. However, according to journalist Adam Cooper, the stewards have the option to decree a modification of the qualifying format, which should in all likelihood lead to the elimination of 4 cars at the end of Q1 and Q2 in order to maintain a Q3 with 10 drivers.
