107% Rule

The 107% Rule is a Formula One qualifying regulation that requires drivers to set a lap time within 107 percent of the fastest time recorded in the first qualifying session, or risk being excluded from the race.

In simple terms, this rule acts as a speed threshold that ensures all cars on the track are fast enough to compete safely. If one driver completes their fastest lap in 90 seconds, every other driver must finish at least one lap in 96.3 seconds or faster (90 seconds multiplied by 1.07) to guarantee their spot on the starting grid.

The rule applies specifically during Q1, which is the first part of the qualifying session where drivers compete to set their best lap times. This session determines who advances to later qualifying rounds and, more importantly for slower teams, who meets the minimum speed requirement to race.

Formula One introduced this qualifying rule in 1996 to address safety concerns and maintain competitive standards. When cars with vastly different speeds share the same track, faster drivers may encounter slower vehicles unexpectedly, creating dangerous situations. The regulation helps prevent these scenarios by ensuring a minimum performance level across all competitors.

However, the rule isn't absolute. Race stewards have the authority to allow drivers who failed to meet the 107 percent threshold to start the race anyway. They might grant exceptions if a driver showed competitive pace during practice sessions or experienced fixable mechanical problems during qualifying. This discretion prevents unfair exclusions due to temporary issues rather than genuine lack of speed.

The rule also doesn't apply during wet weather qualifying sessions. Rain dramatically affects lap times and makes fair comparison difficult, so stewards suspend the requirement when conditions are declared wet.

After being used from 1996 to 2002, Formula One removed the regulation but brought it back in 2011 with adjustments to fit the modern knockout-style qualifying format. Today, it remains an important safeguard, though it rarely affects top teams and primarily impacts newer or struggling constructors.

Critics argue the 107% Rule can be harsh on smaller teams with limited budgets, potentially preventing them from racing even when they've made significant efforts to compete. Supporters counter that maintaining speed standards is essential for driver safety and preserving the sport's elite status as the pinnacle of motorsport racing.