The Push for Flat-Out Qualifying in Formula 1
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has highlighted the growing consensus among teams, drivers, and governing bodies that Formula 1 needs to return to “flat-out qualifying” as soon as possible. This sentiment comes amid the introduction of new power units that are nearly 50% electric, which have shifted the focus of performance towards energy management.
In qualifying sessions, this means drivers often downshift or lift and coast before corners, avoiding taking fast curves at full speed to conserve energy for later use. While this approach has led to some positive feedback regarding the new style of racing, many feel that qualifying no longer challenges drivers in the same way it once did.
Mekies emphasized that there is a shared desire across the sport to see qualifying return to its traditional form. “If there is one thing we all agree on – all teams, FIA, F1 and the drivers – it is that we all would like to see qualifying to be flat-out qualifying, or as close as possible to flat-out qualifying,” he said after the Japanese Grand Prix. “So, it’s the first thing we are, as a sport, trying to focus on.”
He added that once flat-out qualifying is achieved, it could lead to races with potentially less “gaming,” referring to the strategic manipulation of race tactics. However, there are varying opinions on how much gaming is acceptable during races. “The level of gaming in the race you can probably adjust. And there are very different opinions up and down the pitlane on that level. But I think the most important is that we get closer to flat-out qualifying, and that’s what as a sport we try to achieve when we meet.”
Challenges and Timelines
Despite the push for change, implementing adjustments midseason can be difficult unless the issue is related to safety. Max Verstappen humorously pointed out this challenge, highlighting the complexities of making changes during the current season.
Mekies suggested that the focus should be on addressing the issue properly for the 2027 season. “Personally, I think the focus should be on how to sort it properly for ’27,” he said. “Because we are still in time to do enough if we want to address that for ‘27 and have enough flat-out qualifying in ‘27. And then I’m sure there is a number of small things that we can do in ’26.”
Performance and Lap Times
Despite the changes in qualifying formats, the new F1 cars have shown remarkable acceleration, with lap times remaining close to previous years. At Suzuka, Kimi Antonelli set pole position with a time of 1m28.778s, which was 1.8 seconds slower than Max Verstappen’s time from last year but faster than the pole times in 2022 and 2023 – or any time until 2016.
This indicates that while the format of qualifying may have changed, the performance levels of the cars have not diminished significantly. It also raises questions about how the sport will balance innovation with tradition, particularly in terms of driver engagement and fan experience.
