Fewer sets of tires allocated for the weekend in Imola
Pirelli will allocate two fewer sets of tires to the teams for the Emilia-Romagna GP weekend. A new regulation will be implemented for the qualifying session.
It has barely been over a week since Formula 1 tried a new format (the sprint weekend in Azerbaijan), but another test should follow at Imola. Some time ago, the FIA and Formula 1 announced that they would try a new qualifying format at Imola.
Firstly, let’s note that the format of a typical weekend is maintained. At Imola, three free practice sessions are scheduled. Unlike a sprint weekend, the preparation time for the Grand Prix qualifying remains exactly the same. Only the qualification itself is affected at Imola.
Less tire options and one specific tire per session
The organizers of Formula 1 believe that it is important for the sport to become more sustainable. With this in mind, they have decided that Pirelli will supply fewer sets of tires than usual. During a typical weekend, drivers have 13 sets of tires available, but at Imola, they will have 11: three sets of hard tires, four sets of medium tires, and four sets of soft tires.
During regular qualifications, teams have the option to choose the Pirelli compound they want to use in Q1, Q2, and Q3. For Imola, it is indicated that hard tires must be used in Q1, medium tires in Q2, and in Q3, drivers will use soft tires. Furthermore, if the qualifications take place in rainy conditions, the tire choice will be free.
Formula 1 aims to be more sustainable
The advantage of this configuration is that teams actually use the allocated sets of tires. As things stand, drivers generally choose soft tires (and occasionally a medium tire) for qualifying. The hard tire is much less frequently used, sometimes not even during races. By reducing the number of tire sets and specifying when to use which tires in qualifying, Formula 1 wants to try to decrease the number of unused tire sets. This requirement coincides with the sustainability project implemented by the governing bodies.
The FIA and Formula 1 intend to try this Imola configuration again later in the season. This should take place in the summer, or at least on a circuit where temperatures are high. The next location for this test is still unknown.
If Pirelli and the teams are satisfied with the test, this system could be introduced for every Grand Prix in 2024.
