How F1 Qualifying Works: Q1, Q2, Q3 and the Fight for Pole
Three sessions, one lap at a time and the slowest cars knocked out each round. Here is how Formula 1 sets its starting grid.
On most F1 weekends, Saturday is just as dramatic as Sunday. Qualifying decides the starting grid, and on tracks where overtaking is hard, it can decide the race.
The Knockout Format
Qualifying is split into three sessions, each shorter and more intense than the last.
Q1: 18 Minutes
Every car takes part. When the session ends, the slowest cars are eliminated and fill the back of the grid in order of their best lap.
Q2: 15 Minutes
The remaining cars go again, and another group of the slowest drivers is knocked out. They line up behind the Q3 runners.
Q3: 12 Minutes
The top 10 fight for pole position. Most drivers get two runs on fresh tires. The fastest lap earns pole, the first spot on the grid.
Each time a session restarts, everyone's earlier lap times are wiped out. Only the current session counts.
Why Track Evolution Matters
A track gets faster as more rubber is laid down. That is why drivers often wait until the final minutes of each session to set their best lap. A red flag late in a session can ruin someone's chances, which adds plenty of drama.
Tire Rules
For years, drivers in the top 10 had to start the race on the tires they used in Q2. That rule was removed, so teams now have a free choice of starting tires for the race.
The 107 Percent Rule
To race, a driver must set a time within 107 percent of the fastest Q1 lap. It keeps dangerously slow cars off the grid. Stewards can allow exceptions, for example if a driver crashed in practice but has shown competitive pace.
Parc Ferme
Once qualifying begins, cars enter parc ferme conditions. Teams can make only limited changes before the race, so they must choose a setup that works on both Saturday and Sunday.
Grid Penalties
The grid does not always match qualifying. Drivers can receive grid penalties for using too many engine parts or for breaking rules in earlier sessions. That is how a fast driver can qualify third and still start near the back.
Sprint Weekends
On sprint weekends, there is an extra, shorter Sprint Qualifying session with the same three-part knockout format but less time in each part. It sets the grid for the Saturday sprint, which pays points under the F1 points system.
With 22 cars on the grid since the 2026 rule changes, avoiding an early knockout is tougher than ever.
Background from Wikipedia
Pole position
In a motorsports race, pole position is the best position on the track at the start and thus, by definition, the participant in pole position is starting it from first place.
As having pole position is extremely advantageous in most forms of motorsport, the pole position is usually earned by a driver via another competitive method. Most often, this is by having the best qualifying times in timed trials before the race that determine the order of the starting grid, though it can also be awarded in other circumstances (such as current position in the series' championship, the results of a previous race, the drawing of lots, or a reversed grid). The driver in pole position is referred to as the pole-sitter.
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is each F1 qualifying session?
Q1 lasts 18 minutes, Q2 lasts 15 minutes and Q3 lasts 12 minutes, with short breaks in between.
What is the 107 percent rule in F1?
A driver must set a lap within 107 percent of the fastest Q1 time to be allowed to start the race. Stewards can make exceptions in special circumstances, such as a crash or rain.
What does pole position mean?
Pole position is first place on the starting grid, earned by setting the fastest lap in Q3.
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