Parc Fermé

Parc Ferme is a secure area at racing venues where race cars are locked away under strict supervision, preventing teams from making unauthorized changes to their vehicles between qualifying and the race.

The term comes from French and literally means "closed park." Think of it like a high-security garage where race officials keep a close eye on every car to make sure no team tries to sneak in improvements after they've already qualified for their starting position.

In Formula 1, Parc Ferme rules kick in once qualifying begins. From that moment until the race starts, teams can only perform very limited work on their cars. They can change tires, add fuel, and make small adjustments to the front wing angle, but that's about it. Major changes like adjusting the suspension, modifying aerodynamic parts, or tweaking engine settings are strictly forbidden.

The main purpose of Parc Ferme is to keep racing fair. Without these rules, teams could completely rebuild their cars after qualifying with a setup specifically designed for race day, rather than having to find a compromise setup that works for both qualifying and racing.

Teams can only make bigger changes in special circumstances. If the weather changes dramatically from qualifying to race day, officials might allow teams to adjust their cars for safety reasons. Similarly, if a car gets damaged, teams can replace broken parts with identical components, but only with official permission.

Breaking Parc Ferme rules comes with serious consequences. Teams might have to start the race from the pit lane instead of their earned grid position, or in severe cases, face complete disqualification from the race.

While most famous in Formula 1, Parc Ferme rules exist across many forms of motorsport, including rally racing, where cars are secured overnight between stages to prevent illegal modifications or repairs.