Quali rules
QUOTE
33) QUALIFYING PRACTICE
33.1 The qualifying practice session will take place on the day before the race from 14.00 to 15.00.
The session will be run as follows :
a) From 14.00 to 14.20 (Q1) all cars will be permitted on the track and at the end of this period the
slowest eight cars will be prohibited from taking any further part in the session.
Lap times achieved by the eighteen remaining cars will then be deleted.
b) From 14.27 to 14.42 (Q2) the eighteen remaining cars will be permitted on the track and at the end of
this period the slowest eight cars will be prohibited from taking any further part in the session.
Lap times achieved by the ten remaining cars will then be deleted.
c) From 14.50 to 15.00 (Q3) the ten remaining cars will be permitted on the track.
The above procedure is based upon a Championship entry of 26 cars. If 24 cars are entered seven will be
excluded after Q1 and Q2 and if 22 cars are entered only six cars will be excluded after Q1 and Q2.
33.2 Any driver whose car stops on the circuit during the qualifying session will not be permitted to take any
further part in the session. Any car which stops on the circuit during the qualifying session, and which is
returned to the pits before the end of the session, will be held in parc fermé until the end of the session.
34) POST QUALIFYING PARC FERMÉ
34.1 Each car will be deemed to be in parc fermé from the time at which it leaves the pit lane for the first time
during qualifying practice until the start of the race. Any car which fails to leave the pit lane during
qualifying practice will be deemed to be in parc fermé at the end of Q1.
Between these times, other than when cars are returned to the parc fermé overnight, the following work
may be carried out :
- engines may be started ;
- fuel may be added or removed and a fuel breather fitted ;
- wheels and tyres may be removed, changed or rebalanced and tyre pressures checked ;
- spark plugs may be removed in order to carry out an internal engine inspection and cylinder
compression checks ;
- permitted heating or cooling devices may be fitted ;
- a jump battery may be connected and on board electrical units may be freely accessed via a physical
connection to the car ;
- charging and / or discharging of the KERS energy storage devices ;
- removal of the KERS energy storage devices which, once marked by the FIA technical delegate, may
be retained overnight by the team ;
- the main electrical battery and radio batteries may be changed ;
- the brake system may be bled ;
- engine oil may be drained ;
- compressed gases may be drained or added ;
- the aerodynamic set up of the front wing may be adjusted using the existing parts. No parts may be
added, removed or replaced ;
- if the FIA technical delegate is satisfied that changes in climatic conditions necessitate alterations to
the specification of a car, changes may be made to the air ducts around the front and rear brakes and
radiator ducts. These changes may be made at any time after the message “CHANGE IN CLIMATIC
CONDITIONS” is shown on the timing monitors, from this point the choice of air ducts around the
front and rear brakes and radiator ducts is free, subject always to compliance with the relevant
Technical Regulations.
- bodywork (excluding radiators) may be removed and / or cleaned ;
- cosmetic changes may be made to the bodywork and tape may be added ;
- any part of the car may be cleaned ;
- on board cameras, marshalling system components, timing transponders and any associated
equipment may be removed, refitted or checked ;
- any work required by the FIA technical delegate ;
- changes to improve the driver's comfort. In this context anything other than the adjustment of mirrors,
seat belts and pedals may only be carried out with the specific permission of the FIA technical
delegate. The addition or removal of padding (or similar material) is also permitted but may only be
carried out under supervision and, if required by the FIA technical delegate, must be removed before the post-race weighing procedure.
- drinking fluid for the driver may be added at any time, however, the capacity of the container for any
such fluid must not exceed 1.5 litres ;
- repair of genuine accident damage ;
- any parts which are removed from the car in order to carry out any work specifically permitted above,
or any parts removed to carry out essential safety checks, must remain close to it and, at all times, be
visible to the scrutineer assigned to the relevant car.
Any work not listed above may only be undertaken with the approval of the FIA technical delegate following
a written request from the team concerned. It must be clear that any replacement part a team wishes to fit
is similar in mass, inertia and function to the original. Any parts removed will be retained by the FIA.
However, if a team wishes to change a part during the qualifying session and/or on the grid before the start
of the race, this may be done without first seeking the permission of the technical delegate, provided it is
reasonable for the relevant team to believe permission would be given if there was time to ask and the
broken or damaged part remains in full view of the scrutineer assigned to the car at all times.
34.2 At the end of the qualifying practice at least six cars will be chosen at random to undergo further checks,
once informed their car has been selected the team concerned must take the car to the parc fermé
immediately.
34.3 Within three and a half hours of the end of the qualifying practice session all cars used during the session
(or which were intended for use but failed to leave the pit lane) must be taken to the parc fermé, where
they will remain secure until the following day. For marketing purposes this deadline may be extended for
one car from each competitor for a maximum of two hours by prior arrangement with the FIA technical
delegate. However, no work of any kind may be carried out
on the car any later than three and a half hours
after the end of the qualifying practice session.
Whilst cars are in the parc fermé they may be covered and fitted with devices to keep them warm, no team
personnel will be permitted there unless specifically authorised by the FIA technical delegate.
34.4 Five hours before the start of the formation lap teams will be permitted to take their cars back to their
garages where, again, they will remain under parc fermé conditions until the start of the race.
34.5 If a competitor modifies any part on the car or makes changes to the set up of the suspension whilst the
car is being held under parc fermé conditions the relevant driver must start the race from the pit lane and
follow the procedures laid out in Article 38.2.
34.6 One scrutineer will be allocated to each car for the purpose of ensuring that no unauthorised work is
carried out whilst cars are being held under parc fermé conditions.
34.7 A list of parts replaced with the specific agreement of the FIA technical delegate whilst cars are being held
under parc fermé conditions will be published and distributed to all teams prior to the race.
34.8 In order that the scrutineers may be completely satisfied that no alterations have been made to the
suspension systems or aerodynamic configuration of the car (with the exception of the front wing) whilst in
post-qualifying parc fermé, it must be clear from physical inspection that changes cannot be made without
the use of tools.