P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Explained: How F1 qualifying will change in 2026 to accommodate Cadillac
In 2026, Formula 1 qualifying will see a change with Cadillac entering the competition, increasing the number of drivers on the grid from 20 to 22.
To accommodate the additional team and drivers, a small adjustment has been made to the qualifying format while retaining the traditional three-part knockout structure.
With only 10 cars advancing to Q3 where the top-10 shootout takes place, 12 cars will now be eliminated in both Q1 and Q2.
The six slowest drivers in each of these sessions will be knocked out, with grid positions P17 to P22 determined by Q1 and positions P11 to P16 set by Q2.
No changes have been made to Q3, where pole position and the top-10 grid spots will be decided in a 12-minute session.
