Update to the Formula 1 regulations confirms the cancellation of the Q2 tire rule

The FIA confirms that from the 2022 season, Formula 1 drivers qualifying in the top ten will no longer be required to start the race on Q2 tires.

Team representatives have been discussing the abolition of the rule, which has been in effect since 2014 and required all drivers who made it to Q3 to start the race on Q2 tires, for several years.

This rule was intended to create an additional level of uncertainty, as it encouraged some teams to try to make it to Q3 on a harder set of tires to gain an advantage at the start of the race.

But the advantage of the leading teams meant that it rarely led to a great diversity of strategies or provided opportunities for pursuing teams. In some races, all drivers chose the medium tire compound to advance to the final qualifying stage.

After the introduction of sprint race weekends in Formula 1 last year, which abolished the Q2 tire rule, this rule will now be abolished for all races, meaning that all drivers will have the freedom to choose their starting tires.

This will create additional intrigue before each race, as teams will be thinking about which tires to start the race on if their cars are in the top ten.