Formula 1's plans to introduce a fourth qualifying phase from 2020 onwards look to have been dumped, with the publication of the 2020 Sporting Regulations.
The FIA document has qualifying unchanged from the three sessions currently in use, which has proven popular with fans since it was introduced back in 2006 – although it underwent a brief and short-lived change in 2016, which was quickly dumped after two rounds.
F1 floated the idea of adding a Q4 with its own simulations suggesting it might increase the drama as drivers would have to survive three sessions, rather than two, to reach the final top-ten shoot-out (or in the case of Q4, a top-eight shoot-out).
The proposal was put to the teams last month during the Chinese GP, but support for introducing it next season was lukewarm.
In various polls, a majority of fans were also against its introduction and it would seem F1 has now listened and dropped the plan.
Under the rules, regulation changes after April 30 require unanimous agreement amongst ten teams, which is very unlikely given their initial response.
"These Sporting Regulations apply to the Championship taking place in the calendar year referred to in the title ("the Championship") and may only be changed after 30 April of the preceding year with the unanimous agreement of all competitors, save for changes made by the FIA for safety reasons which may come into effect without notice or delay."
Discussion about this post