The FIA announced on Saturday that several changes have been made to the qualifying format for 2026. It was already known that from now on six cars will drop out in Q1 and Q2. This is related to the entry of the new Cadillac team into Formula 1. However, adjustments are also being made in Q3. For example, the decisive shoot-out between the ten fastest drivers will soon last one minute longer.
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The FIA’s World Motor Sport Council agreed this week to a series of changes for 2026. Q3 will be extended by one minute and will last thirteen minutes instead of twelve in the new season. In addition, six cars will be eliminated in the first two qualifying rounds instead of five. These adjustments were already included in the regulations, but will only take effect once there are eleven teams on the entry list.
Read more Failed experiment? Mandatory two-stopper at Monaco GP scrapped for 2026
Extending Q3 is not the only change the FIA is implementing in the run-up to the new season. Earlier, the engine discussion surrounding Mercedes was settled: from June 1, the organization will carry out stricter tests to measure the compression ratio. In addition, the mandatory two-stopper during the Monaco GP – which hardly provided any extra spectacle last year – has been scrapped.
Read more FIA settles engine discussion around Mercedes, changes regulations for 2026
View the 2026 F1 calendar here
