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Formula 1 qualifying to get Q4 in 2019

"Formula 1 qualifying to get Q4 in 2019"

22-09-2018 08:32
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Nicolás Quarles van Ufford

According to reports from Auto Motor und Sport, who are normally very well-informed in the world of F1, the sport will get a fourth stint of qualifying next season, next to the three that already exist.

That's not the only change in the rules, though, as the German news source reported that a lot of new regulations have been established by Liberty Media regarding the future of F1.

Stronger, louder engines

The first thing is that the engines as we know them now, with electrical components adding to the engine, will keep existing, and will even get a bit more powerful. Where the electrical part of the engine is now allowed to produce 120 kW, that will be 140 kW in 2021. Also, the speed at which this power gets pumped to the engine will increase.

That will allow the cars to rev faster and to higher, which should increase the quality of the sound. That's one box that needed to be ticked, and Liberty Media thinks that this will do the trick.

Cutting costs

The F1 wants more strict financial rules to even the playing field for the smaller teams, and that's on the agenda for 2021.

Engine manufacturers aren't really restricted as of now with the production and the testing of engines, but that will change between 2021 and 2023. The amount of engines you're allowed to test on will decrease, and the 4000 testing hours will be halved in 2021, and even cut back to 1000 hours in 2023.

Qualifying

Last, but certainly not least, is qualifying. Going into effect in 2019, a Q4 will be added to Q1, 2 and 3. Where the top 15 gets decided after Q1 and the top ten after Q2, Q3 will now act to determine the top eight, who will then battle for pole position in the fourth and final qualifying session. Whether this will actually add something remains to be seen as it's only two places between Q3 and Q4,