Formula 1's Q4 session not included in 2020 regulations
Formula 1's plans for a fourth qualifying session are looking unlikely as regulations for 2020 were published with the current qualifying format in place. There had been a proposal for an additional qualifying session as it would mean that there would be more opportunities for fans to see the cars on track.
It had been suggested that four cars would be eliminated at the end of the Q1, Q2 and Q3, leaving eight to contest Q4. However, these plans have been scrapped as some of the teams believed that it didn't make sense.
"It doesn't make a lot of sense to us," said Racing Point technical director Andy Green to Autosport. "There's a lack of tyres, and it seems to promote the top three teams even further ahead. That to me doesn't seem like closing the field up and making for better racing.
"Qualifying is probably one of the least broken parts. For the moment the qualifying spectacle works, and it does what we set out for it to do all those years ago.
"We've tried tweaking it a few times, and it hasn't really made it any better."
It looks like qualifying will remain the same for the next few years as it does not make enough sense to add another session.