What are Q1, Q2 and Q3 in Formula 1?

Q1, Q2 and Q3 are the three stages of the Formula 1 qualifying session held before each Grand Prix. The format, known as knockout qualifying, eliminates five drivers in Q1, another five in Q2, and leaves the 10 fastest fighting for pole position in Q3.

How each stage works

Q1 — 18 minutes

All 20 drivers take part. Everyone chases their fastest lap. The five slowest are eliminated and fill grid spots 16 to 20. The remaining 15 advance to Q2.

Q2 — 15 minutes

The 15 surviving drivers compete. A new run of fast laps. The five slowest are eliminated and fill grid spots 11 to 15. The top 10 advance to Q3.

Q3 — 12 minutes

The 10 remaining drivers battle for the pole position. The fastest secures pole; the rest line up from 2nd to 10th based on their time.

Format at a glance

Sprint qualifying (on Sprint weekends)

On Sprint weekends there are two distinct qualifying sessions:

• Sprint Qualifying (SQ1, SQ2, SQ3): sets the Saturday Sprint grid.
• Traditional qualifying (Q1, Q2, Q3): sets the Sunday race grid.

The knockout format is identical, with slightly shorter times (SQ1 12 min, SQ2 10 min, SQ3 8 min).

Tyre strategy

Since 2022 drivers can choose compounds freely in each stage. In previous seasons, parc fermé rules forced drivers to start Q3 on the tyres used in Q2.

Frequently asked questions

How long do Q1, Q2 and Q3 take in total? 45 minutes of active session time (18 + 15 + 12), plus breaks of around 7-8 minutes between stages.

Can drivers eliminated in Q1 change strategy? Yes. Not advancing means they have more new tyres available for the race.

What happens if a driver doesn't set a time in Q1? They start last on the grid, or from the pit lane if a penalty applies.

Is a red flag in qualifying resumed? It depends on the time remaining. If few seconds are left, the session may be ended.

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