Qualifying day presents an F1 fan with a lot of entertainment, especially the Q3 shootout, which for the 2018 season saw some record breaking laps and some real close finishes.
However, sometimes during Q2, the energy levels fall flat, especially when a couple of drivers are taking grid penalties.
Now, the 2018 rules stated that any driver with a grid penalty of 15 would be relegated to the back of the grid.
In the case of multiple drivers facing a 15 grid penalty or more, the order of who would be placed above the other will be decided on when the ‘penalty offence’ is committed.
Teams and drivers who were supposed to take grid penalties that weekend used to get out of their garages quite quickly during the free practice and park their cars near the pit lane exit.
Now, this would allow them to get onto the track quicker and before anyone else, thereby guaranteeing them a higher position on grid on raceday.
In order to prevent all of this from happening, FIA will introduce a new rule in 2019, where the grid order of the cars taking similar penalties is decided by their qualifying order on Saturday.
This will make sure that Q2 is not a formality, especially if most of the midfield drivers are taking a penalty.
This method should help increase competitiveness on qualifying day, something that was needed. FIA were also discussing the 4 session qualifying, but that hasn’t been agreed upon by all teams and hence wouldn’t make an appearance in 2019 at least.
