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Formula 1 qualifying is a three-stage timed session that ranks drivers for the Grand Prix starting grid. In the 2026 season’s 22-car field, all eligible cars start in Q1; six are eliminated, another six leave in Q2, and the remaining ten contest Q3. The fastest Q3 driver earns pole position, although the final starting grid can differ if penalties apply.
What Q1, Q2 and Q3 mean
Each segment is a timed opportunity to set a lap. Drivers who progress must set a qualifying time in the next segment: times from an earlier segment do not carry forward when the next one begins. Only laps started and completed by crossing the control line on track count toward the classification.
| Segment | Duration under the 2026 rules | Who takes part and what happens |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 18 minutes | All eligible cars run. In a 22-car field, the six slowest are eliminated. |
| Q2 | 15 minutes | The 16 remaining cars run. In a 22-car field, the six slowest are eliminated. |
| Q3 | 13 minutes | The ten remaining drivers compete for the top ten qualifying places; the fastest earns pole position. |
The FIA schedule includes a seven-minute interval between Q1 and Q2 and another seven-minute interval between Q2 and Q3. These times and the elimination procedure are set out in the FIA’s 2026 Formula 1 Sporting Regulations, Section B, Issue 09, dated 1 October 2026. Regulations can change between seasons.
How many drivers are eliminated in each round?
The familiar six-driver elimination pattern applies to the 22-car field used in 2026, not to every possible field size. The FIA’s procedure adjusts the number eliminated based on the number of eligible cars:
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| Eligible cars | Eliminated after Q1 | Eliminated after Q2 | Advance to Q3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 5 | 5 | 10 |
| 22 | 6 | 6 | 10 |
| 24 | 7 | 7 | 10 |
These counts follow Article B2.4.2 of the FIA’s 2026 regulations. If the eligible-car count differs from 20, 22 or 24, the regulation—not a rule of “six out”—determines the applicable procedure.
How qualifying positions are decided
Q1 and Q2: fastest lap in the round where a driver is eliminated
Drivers knocked out in Q1 are ordered by their best Q1 lap; in the ordinary 22-car case they occupy qualifying positions 17 to 22. Those eliminated in Q2 are ordered by their best Q2 lap and fill positions 11 to 16. A driver who advances is classified using the time set in the later round, not an earlier one.
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Q3: the pole-position shoot-out
The ten Q3 drivers are ranked by their best Q3 laps. The quickest is first in the qualifying classification and takes pole position. Formula 1’s beginner’s guide to the 2026 regulations describes Q3 as the “10-car pole position shoot-out.” If two drivers record an identical time, the FIA gives priority to the one who set it first.
Does qualifying set the Grand Prix starting grid?
Qualifying determines the basis of the Grand Prix grid: the FIA regulations say the race grid is determined by the results of the Race qualifying session. But the qualifying classification and final starting grid are not always identical. A separate grid-allocation procedure accounts for applicable penalties, so a driver who qualifies first may not actually start first.
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Qualifying also should not be confused with Sprint Qualifying. At a Sprint weekend, Sprint Qualifying sets the Sprint grid; the separate Race Qualifying session sets the Grand Prix grid. The official Formula 1 weekend guide explains the session formats.
What if a driver cannot set a representative lap?
Not every driver who fails to record a usable time is automatically placed like a driver with a valid lap. The FIA’s classification provisions distinguish drivers who began a flying lap, those who did not begin one, and those who did not leave the pits; the prior-period classification can break ties within those groups.
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There is also a 107% rule in Q1: a driver whose best lap is more than 107% of the fastest Q1 time may be unclassified unless the Race Director has declared the track wet. Other no-time or deleted-lap cases can also affect classification. The stewards decide whether a driver in these circumstances may take part in the remainder of the event. These outcomes are not a substitute for the ordinary fastest-lap ordering of drivers with valid times.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When does race qualifying take place?
Under the FIA schedule, race qualifying takes place on the second day of on-track running. At a standard-format event it starts two to three hours after FP3; at an alternative-format event it starts three to four hours after the Sprint. That means Saturday is common, but not a safe assumption for every event or calendar format.
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