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The new three-part
format will ensure that several cars take to the track for
the entire qualifying period. It will also create further excitement
throughout qualifying as teams are knocked out in each of the
three sessions.
The change received a generally positive response from the paddock. Red Bull
Racing boss Christian Horner said: “The changes for next year will be good
and it is encouraging for the bigger picture of Formula One. I think qualifying
will be an interesting spectacle now. What we will see is it will build to a
crescendo and it has the best of everything, a busy finish, with and without
fuel, it is a good solution.”
The new system, split into three sessions, permits all cars on the track in the
first 15-minute period. The slowest five cars in that period are eliminated and
make up the last five grid positions in the order of their times.
The times for the fifteen remaining cars are reset for the next 15-minute session,
at the end of which the slowest five cars drop out and take positions 11 to 15.
The times for the ten remaining cars are, again, reset for the final 20-minute
session, which is a straight shoot out for pole with all cars on the track putting
in as many laps as they choose.
Cars will be under parc ferme conditions from the time they enter the track for
the first time during qualifying until the start of the race. Changing tyres
and adding fuel will no longer be
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part of the parc
ferme regulations.
Fuel may be added to cars at any time during the first 40 minutes of qualifying
and any car eliminated during the first two periods may then be refuelled at
any time until the pit lane opens for the race.
Teams will be required to fill cars taking part in the final 20-minute period
with the amount of fuel with which they intend to start the race. Any fuel used
during the 20-minute period may be replaced before the start of the race.
The reintroduction of tyre changes also received a positive response. It was
made possible by the switch to less powerful V8 engines next season. Clearly,
fans missed the excitement of tyre changes during pitstops but it had been necessary
to banish them in a bid to slow down the cars. With the new engine rules, tyre
changes can return to the sport.
Again, team bosses supported the move. Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo
commented: “This is a good move as tyres had become too important. It is
right to give the tyres some degree of importance but not to transform the championship
into a tyre championship.”
In 2006, each driver will be permitted to use seven sets of dry-weather tyres
for each event. All tyres used for qualifying and race must be of the same specification
and tyre changes will be permitted at any time during the race.
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