What is the new qualifying format for the 2023 F1 Hungarian GP? How many tires will each driver get to use?

This weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix is making headlines in more ways than one: Red Bull on the verge of a breaking McLaren‘s long-standing record of 11 consecutive race victories, the return of Daniel Ricciardo and a brand new qualifying format. With race fans wanting more on-track action, F1 organisers have targeted changes in qualifying in order to mix up the running order on race day.

While it may quickly add to the list of failed formats of the past, the ‘Alternative Tyre Allocation’ method could also be a great success, restricting team’s tyre choices in each qualifying session instead of each having free choice. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the format’s debut at the Hungarian GP.

While teams are usually given free choice over tyre strategy in qualifying – often opting for the fastest soft tyre – they will now be restricted to a single compound per session of qualifying: Q1 will restrict drivers to the hard tyre, Q2 will restrict drivers to the medium tyre while Q3 will restrict drivers to the soft tyre.

How will the format affect drivers’ qualifying run?

The format will affect drivers’ qualifying runs in different quarters.

In Q1, teams may need to fuel their cars for the entire 18-minute session, giving the drivers plenty of time to bring the required hard tyre up to working temperature and capture the best lap times. Failure to do so may result in a shock exit or two, as the track will continue to evolve throughout the first part of qualifying.

In Q2, teams will be expected two adopt a similar philosophy, but will likely use two sets of the medium tyre to secure a place in the shootout for pole position. Finally in Q3, drivers should set the fastest times of day on the soft tyre compound but now with much less time to practice with the increased levels of grip.

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