Summary:
- Q1 and Q2 eliminations: The six slowest cars (up from five) are now eliminated due to the expanded grid.
- Q3 Duration: Extended from 12 to 13 minutes.
- Break between Q2 and Q3: reduced from 8 to 7 minutes.
- Monaco Grand Prix: The mandatory two-stop race rule introduced in 2025 has been scrapped as it failed to improve the spectacle of the race.
I wonder if the slightly smaller, lighter cars make Monaco less of a parade lap? I guess we’ll have to wait and what the spread of performance across teams is like by that point, and if it’s any easier to get overtaking done.
They’re still basically as big and heavier than the 2021 spec cars so no. Last year’s Monaco race was the most farcical race since USA 2005 IMHO. A joke.
As a long time watcher, I skip the races.
Indy 05 was an actually funny joke though. Monaco is just sad and boring.
I think we need a “Monaco spec” car that’s basically a souped up go kart with aero if they insist on keeping on the calendar. Points don’t count to the championship.
That’s what I’ve been suggesting for years. They claim it’s all about the history, fine put them all in historical cars.
Or better yet put them in cars accessible to the public. Then the public can time trial it at some later time in a public event and compare themselves to f1 drivers.
Feeder series have more entertainment in Monaco.
To be honest, I doubt it will make a difference. Drivers have been complaining for at least 40 years that Monaco is a track impossible to overtake on. I would be happy to be wrong, though.
F1 2026 the one where FIA make rules up willy nilly.
Hey, at least these rules are made up before the season starts and not, like, you know, in the last few laps of a championship defining race.
Gah! Right. So stupid.
Wonder what led to adding an extra minute for Q3.
No word of this applying to sprints?
I more minute of screen time for sponsors on track. One less minute of boring interviews of those drivers who have been knocked out.
But most of Q3 were just waiting anyway. They go 1 lap at the beginnig, and 1 at the end. Now they wait during Q3, not before.
There are 2 more cars that need to go around
This is factually wrong because there are still 10 cars remaining in Q3, but I’d believe that it’s the reasoning in the FIA’s heads.
Oh sorry you are right, I misunderstood this for the first session which will obviously have the extra 2. So yeah I don’t know!
