The rule, which was implemented in 2014, required all drivers who advanced to Q3 to start the race on the same tyres they used in Q2.
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F1’s decision to scrap the Q3 tyre rule has been hailed by Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz, who believes it will make races far more fair. The rule, which was implemented in 2014, required all drivers who advanced to Q3 to start the race on the same tyres they used in Q2. For 2022, it has been removed from the sporting regulations, allowing all drivers to start the race on any tyre they want.
“I think it’s more fair,” Sainz said as per RaceFans. Drivers complained that the rule gave an unfair advantage to the fastest teams by allowing them to use a harder tyre compound at the start of the race. According to the Spaniard, the rule change may cause teams to adopt more conservative strategies. He believes, however, that this is a small price to pay for more equal competition among drivers.
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“The only negative thing is that probably in the races that are on the limit of the two and the one-stop, everyone will elect probably a stiffer compound and the race will become a maybe an easier one-stop because you have the possibility to start on the medium. On a new medium on top, not even used.”
“That’s the only downside. But I’m happy to take that downside because it’s a lot more fair for everyone to start a race with equal opportunity, let’s say,” the Ferrari driver added.
Ferrari has looked impressive in both the Barcelona and Bahrain tests, with many claiming that it currently has the best package. While the Maranello team is optimistic that it has made significant progress in moving closer to the front over the winter, team boss Mattia Binotto said that any talk of it being the team to beat is inaccurate. Binotto is perplexed as to why others have praised his team’s potential when he believes it is impossible to know where everyone stands right now in preparation for the first race.
“I’m not myself capable of judging the others,” he said. “But we should be very good to judge ourselves and I don’t think we will be [the] winner.”
“I think both Red Bull and Mercedes have very strong and fast cars, and those teams are very strong as well. I can see that even on the last day [of the test] Red Bull have brought upgrades to their car, proving and showing how good they are in the development, which is critical from now to the first race.”
“Maybe Mercedes as well will improve further. So they are very strong, very fast and I hope that we can be outsiders. I hope that we can somehow try to challenge them. That would be great from our side,” the Italian added.
