FIA could change US GP qualifying format for 18-car entry (Update)

UPDATE This rumor is upgraded to 'fact' today. The FIA have confirmed the revised qualifying format for this weekend's U.S. GP amid the absences of Caterham and Marussia.

With just nine teams and 18 cars racing in Austin this weekend – the fewest number entered for an F1 event since 2005 – the usual three-part knockout for qualifying has had to be tweaked to take into account the reduced field.

Instead of the usual six cars being knocked out in Q1 and Q2 respectively, four will exit each of the opening two segments to leave the normal top-ten runners to battle for pole in Q3.

"Under the authority granted to the Stewards in Article 11.9 of the International Sporting Code, and having regard to the principles established in the Formula One Sporting Regulations Article 33.1, the Stewards decide that the slowest four cars in Q1 will [be] prohibited from taking any further part in the session, and the slowest four cars in Q2 will likewise be prohibited from taking any further part in the session," a statement from the stewards read on Thursday.

10/26/14 The FIA has the option to change the format of qualifying to reflect the 18-car entry that it is expected in Austin next weekend, with both Caterham and Marussia failing to make the trip.

Currently six cars are eliminated in both Q1 and Q2. With an 18-car field that would mean that only two cars would be bumped out in Q1 – and with Sebastian Vettel having already stated that he will sit out qualifying due to a power unit change guaranteeing a pitlane start, in reality we could see only one car bumped in Austin.

However, the FIA Sporting Regulations include the provision for changing the number of cars that are eliminated. The numbers specifically referred to are eight for a 26-car entry, and seven for a 24 car entry. It follows that with an 18-car entry four cars would be bumped from Q1 and Q2.

The regulations refer to the size of the ‘championship’ entry rather than that for an individual race. However sources confirm that once the stewards have officially been notified that only 18 cars are in the Austin field they will have the option to decree that four cars are eliminated in Q1 and Q2.