Parc Fermé

Parc Ferme is a secure, restricted area at a racing circuit where race cars are kept under strict supervision to prevent teams from making unauthorized modifications between qualifying and the race.

The term comes from French, meaning "closed park," and it works like a locked garage where racing officials carefully watch over the cars. Once a car enters Parc Ferme conditions, the team can no longer freely work on it or change its setup. This rule exists primarily in Formula 1 but appears in other forms of motorsport as well.

The main purpose of Parc Ferme is to ensure fairness in racing. Without these restrictions, wealthy teams could completely rebuild their cars after qualifying with different parts or settings, potentially gaining an unfair advantage. By limiting modifications, the rule ensures that the car's qualifying performance accurately reflects what it will race with on race day.

Parc Ferme conditions typically begin when cars leave the pit lane for qualifying and continue until the race starts. During this time, teams face strict limitations on what work they can perform. They cannot change suspension settings, adjust aerodynamic components significantly, or modify the car's setup in meaningful ways.

However, teams are allowed to perform certain basic maintenance tasks under the supervision of FIA officials. These permitted actions include adding fuel, changing tires, bleeding brakes, making minor front wing adjustments, and starting the engine for checks. All work must be done with race officials watching to ensure compliance.

There are important exceptions to Parc Ferme rules. If weather conditions change dramatically between qualifying and race day—such as qualifying in dry conditions but racing in the rain—officials may allow teams to make necessary adjustments for safety. Teams can also repair damage to their cars, but only using replacement parts that match the originals in design and function.

Breaking Parc Ferme regulations carries serious consequences. If a team violates these rules by making unauthorized modifications, their driver typically must start the race from the pit lane rather than their earned grid position. This penalty effectively erases any advantage gained from qualifying.

After the race ends, cars return to Parc Ferme for post-race inspection. Officials examine the finishing cars to verify they comply with all technical regulations, a process that can take up to two hours. Race results only become official after these final checks are complete.

The Parc Ferme system helps control costs in motorsport by preventing teams from creating specialized qualifying-only setups that would require additional resources and engineering. It maintains the sport's integrity by ensuring that grid positions truly reflect on-track performance rather than a team's ability to modify their car between sessions.