Official: Qualification format modified for the United States GP
The absence of Caterham and Marussia for the United States Grand Prix in F1 has led to a modification in the qualification format, which will take place on Saturday at 7 p.m. French time.
The number of cars eliminated during the first two parts of the session will be adjusted to accommodate an 18-car grid, in the absence of Caterham and Marussia, both of which are in administration.
Thus, in Q1 and Q2, four cars will be eliminated each time. Q3 will therefore, as usual, have 10 drivers fighting for pole position, as Adam Cooper announced on his blog earlier in the week. When the starting grid consists of 22 cars, the regulations stipulate that six competitors are eliminated in Q1 and Q2.
« The stewards have been called to clarify the format for the qualifying session, » a statement indicates. « Consequently, under the authority granted to the stewards by Article 11.9 of the International Sporting Code, and in view of the principles established in Article 33.1 of the Formula 1 Sporting Regulations, the stewards decide that the four slowest cars in Q1 will not take part in any further part of the session, and the four slowest cars in Q2 will also not take part in any further part of the session. »
