F1 News: Huge Qualifying Change Coming to Hungarian Grand Prix

This weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix sees a bold shift in tyre strategy as Pirelli Motorsport's Director, Mario Isola, confirms an 'Alternative Tyre Allocation' (ATA) system. Meant to enhance sustainability and spice up the strategy, the ATA system will limit teams to 11 sets of tyres over the race weekend at the Hungaroring, with mandated tyre compounds for each qualifying session.

Drivers will kick off Q1 on Hard tyres, then switch to Mediums for Q2, before the top 10 fight for pole position with soft tyres. This ATA system was meant for its debut at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix but was pushed back to this coming weekend after the cancellation of the race in Imola due to severe flooding.

This change comes as the pressure mounts for the sport to become carbon neutral by 2030.

Isola explains:

"A new tyre allocation for qualifying [known as ATA, or ‘Alternative Tyre Allocation’] will be tried out for the first time, with the obligation to use just the Hard in Q1, Medium in Q2 and Soft in Q3 if conditions stay dry.

"Both these changes, at least on paper, should lead to a wider range of options, particularly in terms of strategy."

Isola also mentioned:

"The ATA also saves two sets of dry tyres compared to the traditional format [using 11 sets instead of 13)] and it will be run again at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza.

"After that, the FIA, F1 and the teams will decide whether or not to adopt it for next season.”

Pirelli's ATA initiative promises a fascinating weekend of racing, with its influence possibly extending to future seasons, based on its success at the Hungarian Grand Prix and the Italian Grand Prix.

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