F3 plans qualifying groups for final at Monza 

La F3 has obviously decided to react to put an end to the traffic problem in qualifying. We cannot yet say whether the episode of the long queue between Blanchimont and the chicane of the bus stop at Spa-Francorchamps with drivers rushing at full speed to begin their flying lap pushed him to find a solution, but the promoter wanted to protect himself in view of the season finale at Monza (August 30-September 1).

Chaos in the final moments of qualifying 😓#F3 #BelgianGP pic.twitter.com/zkbHU5I1jC

- Formula 3 (@ Formula3) July 26, 2024

Thus, two groups will be set up during Friday qualifying at the Temple of Speed. A system already known in the category since it is also applied in Monaco. In the Principality, this is explained by the characteristics of the circuit, short and very narrow, but also by the 30 cars which make up the field. The aim is therefore to avoid traffic-related incidents. The peloton is thus divided into two groups (even and odd numbers) and into two 16-minute sessions. 

A system which will therefore be visible again near Monza in a few days but with two 13-minute sessions this time, although it was not planned at the time. F3 sporting regulations at the start of the season. Unlike Monaco, this decision was probably pushed to avoid a train forming when approaching the last corner, the drivers seeking to have as much slipstream as possible on this track with its long straights. This considerably reduces the risk of accident but above all allows for better organization, everyone being able to make – in an ideal world – a last clean attempt unlike what happened in Belgium before the truce where it was quite simply a mess. . 

The grid will thus be established according to a specific order, practically putting aside the pure time trial, or almost. For reasons of fairness linked to possible changes in grip or track temperature, the drivers' times will not be directly competed from one session to the next. The drivers will in fact be fighting for a line on the grid, more than for a position. Thus, the fastest driver in the first session will take the first row alongside the fastest driver in the second group. The fastest of the two in time will start on pole. The operation is similar for the following lines: the holder of the second time in Group A will start on the second line next to the second in Group B. And so on.

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