105% Rule

The 107% Rule is a motorsport regulation that prevents cars from racing if they are too slow compared to the fastest car, specifically if they cannot complete a qualifying lap within 107% of the quickest time set during the first qualifying session.

In Formula 1 and other racing series, all drivers must attempt to set a fast lap time during the first part of qualifying, called Q1. The race officials take the fastest lap time from that session and multiply it by 1.07 to find the cutoff point. Any driver whose best lap is slower than this calculated time may not be allowed to start the race.

For example, imagine the fastest driver completes their lap in exactly 90 seconds. To find the 107% cutoff, you multiply 90 by 1.07, which equals 96.3 seconds. This means every other driver must complete at least one lap in 96.3 seconds or faster to guarantee their spot on the starting grid.

The main reason for this rule is safety. When some cars are significantly slower than others on the track, it creates dangerous situations. Faster cars approaching slower ones at very different speeds increases the risk of accidents, especially in tight corners or during overtaking maneuvers. The rule ensures all competitors maintain a minimum performance standard.

However, race stewards have the power to make exceptions. If a driver fails to meet the 107% requirement but showed competitive speeds during practice sessions earlier in the weekend, officials may still allow them to race. Similarly, if a car suffered mechanical problems or other issues during qualifying that prevented a proper lap time, stewards can grant permission to start.

The rule typically only applies when the track is dry during qualifying. In wet conditions, lap times can vary dramatically based on when each driver sets their time and how much rain is falling, making the rule less fair and practical to enforce.

Formula 1 first introduced this regulation in 1996 to address concerns about slower teams creating hazards on track. The rule was temporarily removed in 2003 when the qualifying format changed, but returned in 2011 and remains active today. Other racing series including Formula 2 and Formula 3 have adopted similar versions of this rule.

In practice, drivers rarely fail to meet the 107% threshold in modern Formula 1, as the performance gap between teams has generally narrowed. When failures do occur, stewards almost always grant exceptions based on practice session times, meaning actual race exclusions are extremely rare in contemporary motorsport.