Q3 Extended, Monaco GP Reset: FIA Fine-Tunes the Grid Ahead of F1 2026

Last Updated:February 28, 2026, 18:40 IST

FIA extends Q3 to 13 minutes as Cadillac joins Formula 1, revises qualifying eliminations, scraps Monaco two-stop rule, and tightens 2026 engine tests amid concerns over Mercedes.

Formula 1 qualifying will look slightly different this season.

Not dramatically, but enough to matter.

The FIA has confirmed a small but notable change to the Q3 session, extending its running time from 12 to 13 minutes. The adjustment comes as the grid expands to 22 cars, with Cadillac joining the championship as the 11th team.

To accommodate the larger field, qualifying elimination rules have also been revised. Instead of five drivers being knocked out at the end of Q1 and Q2, the slowest six will now be eliminated in each segment. That still leaves 10 cars battling for pole position in Q3, as before.

The extra minute in Q3 is designed to ease traffic and give drivers a clearer window to complete their final flying laps. To balance the schedule, the break between Q2 and Q3 has been reduced from eight minutes to seven.

The changes are subtle, but they reflect the FIA’s attempt to fine-tune session flow as the sport enters a new era.

Monaco Two-Stop Rule Scrapped

Another recent experiment has been shelved.

The mandatory two-stop rule introduced for last year’s Monaco Grand Prix has been scrapped after failing to deliver the intended unpredictability. The regulation was brought in to inject strategic variety at a circuit where overtaking is notoriously difficult.

Instead, the race turned into a largely processional affair, with teams manipulating strategy windows rather than producing on-track drama. The FIA has opted to revert to standard tyre rules for 2026.

Engine Regulations Under Tightened Scrutiny

Looking further ahead, the FIA has also introduced updates to the 2026 power unit regulations. The geometric compression ratio has been reduced from 18:1 to 16:1, but concerns emerged that static ambient-temperature tests did not fully reflect race conditions.

Rival teams suspected certain engines — notably Mercedes’– could effectively exceed limits once fully heated. In response, the FIA has proposed expanded testing at operating temperatures of around 130°C to ensure accurate compliance.

Subject to approval by the FIA Technical Department, the revised testing procedures are scheduled to take effect from August 1, 2026.

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