F1 to undergo qualifying rule change for 2026 season

The FIA has confirmed a minor change to qualifying sessions this year, extending the running time for the final Q3 segment.

Qualifying has been altered slightly this year to accommodate the expanded grid, with Cadillac joining as an 11th team.

In updated regulations shared at the end of December last year, it was confirmed that instead of the slowest five cars being eliminated at the end of Q1 and Q2, this will change to the slowest six competitors.

This will still leave 10 cars in the final Q3 session, where pole position will be decided.

However, instead of running for the usual 12 minutes, the FIA has declared that the on-track running will shift to 13 minutes.

The extension is compromised by the break between Q2 and Q3, which has been reduced by from eight to seven minutes.

In another rule change, the mandatory two-stop race that was implemented at the Monaco Grand Prix has been scrapped.

The change was made last year to invite a more unpredictable race around the hard-to-overtake circuit - however it resulted in a procession and strategy farce that failed to enhance the viewing experience.