F1 teams agree to overhaul qualifying format after Italian Grand Prix Q3 farce

Traffic: Charles Leclerc leads the F1 Italian Grand Prix at the first corner - almost identical to the qualifying session the day before.
Getty Images
Joe Krishnan13 September 2019

Formula One team bosses have unanimously agreed to overhaul the sport's qualifying format for the F1 2020 season.

The decision follows the farcical qualifying session at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, where several drivers failed to set a lap time due to a 'traffic jam' at the first corner.

All nine drivers on the track held off from leading the pack of cars in attempt to catch a slipstream from the car in front, resulting in a pile-up of cars within a short distance of each other.

As a result, the majority of the cars failed to cross the finish line in time to start a hot lap and Renault's Nico Hulkenberg and Racing Point's Sergio Perez were both reprimanded for their part in the incident.

The bizarre incident was heavily criticised by drivers, team bosses and pundits, with many suggesting the rules for qualifying should be amended to avoid a similar instance from occurring in the future.

Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto has revealed that all 10 team bosses have given the green light for the changes to be made for next season.

Speaking to Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport, Binotto said: "All the teams said yes. Including us. Therefore, in 2020 it will be done."

Under the new plans, the Q3 session - where the top 10 drivers battle it out for pole position - will be scrapped.

Instead, drivers will participate in a sprint race on Saturday to determine the grid positions for Sunday's race.

F1 owners Liberty Media are yet to comment publicly on the proposals but it is understood they had previously considered implementing a sprint race format after its success in F2.

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