F1 to check new qualifying guidelines this week at Imola

Qualifying will look somewhat completely different this weekend forward of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. Pirelli, the official tyre provider for Components 1, together with F1 are introducing new qualifying guidelines relating to which compounds the groups can use throughout every phase of qualifying.

Known as the “‘Various Tyre Allocation” (ATA), groups now see their whole quantity of slick tyre compounds for the weekend lowered from 13 to 11. These can be divided into three arduous tyres, 4 medium tyres, and 4 tender tyres.

With respect to qualifying, groups are actually dealing with fastened compounds for every session. Throughout Q1, the primary phase of qualifying, groups are required to make use of the arduous compound. Groups that advance by way of to Q2 then swap to the medium compound, and the ultimate ten groups left standing for Q3 can lastly swap to the tender compound.

The ATA is a transfer in the direction of sustainability.

“At Imola we can be testing a brand new regulation that requires groups to make use of a unique kind of compound for every of the three classes, with the hards fitted for Q1, the mediums for Q2, and the softs for Q3,” stated Pirelli Motorsport Director Mario Isola. “This implies a discount – from 13 to 11 – of the units of dry tyres that every driver has accessible for your complete occasion, due to this fact lowering the environmental impression generated by the manufacturing and transport of the tyres.”

One other transfer in the direction of sustainability includes the Cinturato Blue, the brand new full moist tyre that Pirelli is bringing to Imola. This compound — which can turn out to be useful given the forecasts for the weekend — doesn’t require the usage of a thermal tyre blanket. Earlier variations of this compound required the usage of a tyre hotter to get the compound prepared for the monitor.

“Additionally with the identical finish in thoughts, beginning with this Grand Prix a brand new compound for Full Moist tires can be launched that won’t require the usage of thermal blankets earlier than getting used.” stated Isola. “Observe checks have proven even higher efficiency than the earlier Cinturato Blue Full Moist, even with out electrically heating the tire. It is a first concrete step, the results of research carried out by Pirelli, towards the usage of dry tires with out preheating as properly.”

As for the slick tyre compounds groups can use this week, Pirelli has designated the C3, the C4, and the C5 because the arduous, medium, and tender tyres this weekend. These are the three softest in Pirelli’s array, and these had been the three compounds designated to be used within the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

What makes that notable is that the C3 compound that weekend was maybe the massive winner. Each Esteban Ocon and Nico Hülkenberg, who had been pressured to begin from pit lane resulting from modifications made to their automobiles after qualifying, started the race on the C3 compound. The 2 drivers had been nonetheless contained in the factors late within the race, with Ocon particularly wanting like he might have completed all 51 laps across the Baku Metropolis Circuit on the C3 compound. Solely a compulsory pit cease to vary tyre compounds prevented him from conducting that feat.