Source: Red Bull Content Pool
F1 News
Brawn confirms Q4 qualifying won't happen in 2019
- Jake Williams-Smith
Recent plans for an additional qualifying session will not be implemented in 2019, that is according to F1 sporting boss Ross Brawn. The concept of adding a new session had been touted for a debut next season however that will not be the case, with its introduction now coming in 2020 at the earliest.
Speaking to media ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, Brawn admitted that the idea had been discussed with teams however an agreement was not made and the system would be delayed until 2020.
"We could not reach an agreement for next year," he said. "But the discussion has now started and we want to make sure it continues."
Some teams have already questioned the move, with Sauber suggesting that the move is being made to the detriment of the smaller teams on the grid.
"It only helps the big teams. The smaller ones need the extra time for two attempts per segment," said Sauber team manager Beat Zehnder.
The system would see four drivers eliminated in each of the first three sessions with the top eight drivers remaining fighting for pole position. The aim is to have less downtime between qualifying segments with more on-track action instead of scenes like in Sochi, with several teams sitting in the pits not taking part.