Qualifying
How the Saturday knockout decides who starts where.
Qualifying decides the starting grid: the order the cars line up in for the race. It matters a lot because overtaking is hard, so starting near the front is a big advantage. The driver who starts first is on pole position.
How it works (2026)
It's a knockout in three rounds. Each driver tries to set their fastest lap, and the slowest drivers are eliminated after the first two rounds.
| Round | Length | Cars at the start | Knocked out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 18 minutes | 22 | Slowest 6 (they start 17th to 22nd) |
| Q2 | 15 minutes | 16 | Slowest 6 (they start 11th to 16th) |
| Q3 | 12 minutes | 10 | None. The fastest lap takes pole |
Times are reset for each round, so a driver's Q1 time doesn't carry into Q2. Once a driver is knocked out, their place on the grid is fixed (apart from any grid penalties).
The numbers changed in 2026 because the grid grew from 20 to 22 cars. It used to be five out after Q1 and five more after Q2.
What you'll see on Formula Live
- Each driver's best lap in each round (Q1, Q2, Q3) on the results pages.
- On the live page, drivers about to be knocked out are shaded, and drivers already out are dimmed and keep their place.
Sprint Qualifying
On a sprint weekend, Sprint Qualifying works the same way but sets the grid for the sprint race, not the main race. It is shorter, and in 2026 it also eliminates six drivers after each of its first two rounds.