How does F1 qualifying work?
Grand Prix qualifying is a three-part knockout — Q1, Q2 and Q3. The slowest cars are eliminated after Q1 and again after Q2, leaving the fastest 10 to fight for pole position in Q3. Where you finish across the three parts sets your place on the starting grid.
The Q1, Q2, Q3 knockout format
Formula 1 sets the grid with a single flat-out session split into three parts, run the day before the race. Everyone starts together in Q1; the slowest cars are knocked out at the end of each part, so the field shrinks toward a final shootout for pole. Only a driver’s single fastest lap in each part counts — they can run several timed laps, but only the best one decides whether they advance.
With 2026’s 22-car grid (11 teams of two), the eliminations work out as below. This is the detail most explainers get wrong: they still recite the old 20-car maths of “five out of Q1, five out of Q2.” Since the grid grew to 22 cars, it is 6 out of Q1 and 6 out of Q2 — because Q3 always holds exactly 10 cars.
| Part | Length | Cars | Eliminated | Sets grid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ~18 min | 22 | 6 | P17–P22 |
| Q2 | ~15 min | 16 | 6 | P11–P16 |
| Q3 | ~12 min | 10 | — | P1–P10 |
Q1, Q2 and Q3 explained
Q1 (~18 min). All 22 cars run. The slowest 6 are knocked out and fill grid places P17–P22; the fastest 16 go through to Q2.
Q2 (~15 min). The 16 survivors run again. The slowest 6 drop out into grid places P11–P16; the fastest 10 advance to the pole shootout.
Q3 (~12 min). The final 10 fight for pole. Their order sets the front of the grid, P1–P10, with the fastest lap taking pole position.
What is the 107% rule?
The 107% rule is a minimum-pace safeguard applied in Q1. Any driver whose best Q1 lap is slower than 107% of the fastest Q1 time can be refused permission to start the race. In practice the stewards apply it leniently — a driver who was clearly quick enough in practice, or who was delayed by a mechanical problem, is almost always allowed to start from the back. The threshold is also waived when Q1 is run in wet or otherwise exceptional conditions, when lap times are not a fair measure of a car’s true pace.
How is the starting grid set?
Qualifying decides the entire starting grid, not just pole. The fastest lap in Q3 takes pole position, and the rest of the Q3 order fills places P1–P10. Behind them, the cars knocked out in Q2 line up P11–P16 and those out in Q1 take P17–P22, each in the order of their best lap. The one thing that can reshuffle this is a grid penalty — for example for changing too many power-unit components or for an incident — applied after qualifying, which drops the affected driver a set number of places from where they qualified.
Sprint qualifying vs. Grand Prix qualifying
On a handful of rounds each season the schedule adds a short Saturday Sprint race, and with it a separate Sprint Qualifying session (SQ1, SQ2, SQ3) that sets the grid for the sprint only. That is a different, shorter session — the standard Q1/Q2/Q3 qualifying described here still runs on a sprint weekend to set the grid for Sunday’s Grand Prix. See the full 2026 F1 sprint format and schedule for how a sprint weekend fits together.
What time is qualifying?
Qualifying is usually held on the Saturday afternoon of a race weekend, the day before the Grand Prix. For the exact local start — converted to your own timezone — see the United States GP session times, or browse the full 2026 F1 schedule. Every race page lists practice, qualifying and the race in your local time and updates as you travel.
How does F1 qualifying work? — FAQ
How does F1 qualifying work?
Grand Prix qualifying is a three-part knockout held the day before the race. In Q1 all 22 cars run and the slowest 6 are eliminated; in Q2 the remaining 16 run and the slowest 6 drop out; the fastest 10 then contest Q3 for pole position. Where each driver finishes across the three parts sets their starting grid position.
How many cars are eliminated in each part of F1 qualifying?
With 2026's 22-car grid, 6 cars are knocked out after Q1 (filling grid places P17–P22) and 6 more after Q2 (grid places P11–P16), leaving 10 cars to fight for pole in Q3. Older guides still cite five per session from the 20-car era — the counts rose to 6 each when the grid grew to 22 cars.
How long are Q1, Q2 and Q3?
The three parts get progressively shorter: Q1 runs about 18 minutes, Q2 about 15 minutes, and Q3 about 12 minutes. Drivers can complete several timed laps within each part, and only their single fastest lap counts.
What is the 107% rule in F1?
In Q1, any driver who fails to set a lap within 107% of the fastest Q1 time may be refused permission to start the race, at the stewards' discretion. In practice it is applied leniently — stewards routinely allow a driver through on the strength of their practice pace, and the threshold is waived when Q1 is run in wet or exceptional conditions.
How is the F1 starting grid decided by qualifying?
Qualifying sets the whole grid, not just pole. The Q3 order fills places P1–P10, the cars knocked out in Q2 line up P11–P16, and those out in Q1 take P17–P22. Grid penalties applied afterwards — for example for a power-unit component change — can then move individual drivers back from the position they qualified.
Is sprint qualifying the same as Grand Prix qualifying?
No. On the few sprint weekends a separate, shorter session called Sprint Qualifying (SQ1, SQ2, SQ3) sets the grid for the Saturday sprint only. The standard three-part Q1/Q2/Q3 qualifying described here still runs on those weekends to set the grid for Sunday's Grand Prix.
Know the format — now catch it live. See when qualifying and the race start for the United States GP in your timezone, or browse the full 2026 F1 schedule.
The qualifying format, session lengths and 107% rule are fixed by the FIA Formula 1 Sporting Regulations and current as of 12 August 2026; the per-session elimination counts derive from the committed 2026 grid (22 cars). Unofficial; not affiliated with Formula 1.