– FIA Race Director Charlie Whiting expects the 107 per cent qualifying rule to be relaxed this season. As per Formula 1's current regulations, drivers who fail to record a qualifying time within 107 per cent of the pole-sitter are not automatically cleared to race, with special permission required from the race stewards. Drivers can be given the green light if they have shown sufficient pace in previous sessions, but Whiting has suggested that stewards could be even more lenient this year given the technical regulation overhaul. "I think the 107 per cent rule was introduced to make sure that teams that weren't capable of producing a good car that was of the required performance...
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