After seeing the effects in two weekends, precisely in Hungary and Monza, the F1 Commission is evaluating whether to make the new qualification format called “Alternative Tire Allocation (ATA)” permanent. A format that requires the compound to be used in qualifying, reducing the tire sets for each race weekend. One of the objectives of the FIA and F1 is to simplify the regulations, and make the sport more sustainable. Not to mention the unpredictability of a weekend with this format which forces drivers and teams to have to manage fewer sets of tyres. Having collected positive opinions from professionals, the ATA could therefore become a fixed rule from 2024, except for Sprint weekends.
A successful experiment
Alternative Tire Allocation debuted in Hungary and was revived at the Italian Grand Prix. The format works like this: for the three phases of the qualification there is an obligation to follow the compound; hard in Q1, medium in Q2 and soft in Q3. The solution aims not only to simplify the regulations - either for the management of the weekend by the teams or to bring additional fans closer to a sport that is already complex in itself - but also, and above all to reduce the strong environmental impact of tire production and logistics. With Alternative Tire Allocation the sets of tires per driver per weekend are no longer thirteen but eleven. A great saving.
As reported by Motorsport.com, the F1 Commission is therefore considering including this format in all race weekends, excluding those which include the Sprint format and which currently have twelve trains, but which could also be included in the mandatory allocation having two qualifications per weekend to manage.
All in the hands of the F1 Commission
In general, teams, drivers and professionals have expressed positive opinions on the ATA format. “I think it's working well - says Mario Isola, number one Pirelli at the end of the Monza weekend - then how everything can be perfected, for example considering an additional set for the FP2 session, reducing the number of trains available for the race from seven to six. Personally I think that the qualifying session with this format is much more interesting, because riders have to quickly adapt to different grip levels."
The proposal will then be addressed and voted on by the F1 Commission. Once the vote is concluded, the final approval of the World Motor Sport Council.
Source: Motorsport.com
