F1 News: FIA Brings Back Qualifying Rule Change Ahead Of Japanese Grand Prix

The FIA will enforce a maximum time limit during qualifying on all laps during to prevent impeding during the Japanese GP weekend.

The FIA is all set to bring back the maximum time limit rule for all F1 qualifying laps during the Japanese Grand Prix weekend where drivers will be required to abide by a maximum lap time for all-in laps during the qualifying session, in addition to the reconnaissance laps before the Grand Prix.

The move from the governing body comes after serious impeding incidents during last weekend's Singapore GP qualifying which saw Max Verstappen being handed two warnings and Red Bull receiving a fine of €5000.

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A trial for the maximum time limit rule was conducted during the Italian GP qualifying which saw the rule being expanded to all the laps to avoid impeding and dangerous driving. The experiment worked with zero incidents of impeding being noted during the qualifying. 

The absence of the rule last weekend extending to all qualifying laps in Singapore resulted in confusion when almost half the field mobbed for a track position in the final sector during Q1. 

Race Director Niels Wittich elaborated on the efforts to curb impeding during the qualifying sessions. He said:

“In order to ensure that cars are not driven unnecessarily slowly on in laps during and after the end of qualifying or during reconnaissance laps when the pit exit is opened for the race, drivers must stay below the maximum time set by the FIA between the Safety Car lines shown on the pit lane map.

"For the safe and orderly conduct of the event, other than in exceptional circumstances accepted as such by the stewards, any driver that exceeds the maximum time from the second Safety Car line to the first Safety Car line on ANY lap during and after the end of the qualifying session, including in-laps and out-laps, may be deemed to be going unnecessarily slowly.”

F1 drivers and their respective teams will be informed of the maximum lap time after the second practice session. If any driver is found to exceed the maximum time limit, he could end up facing a penalty. 

During the Italian GP qualifying, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz were found to be slower than the time limit. However, after investigation, it came to light that neither of the two Ferrari drivers would face a penalty since they allowed faster cars to pass safely.