F1 to trial ATA and qualifying rule change at Hungaroring after Imola cancellation

Formula 1 will test its Alternative Tyre Allocation, which includes alterations to the qualifying rules, at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Under the ATA, drivers will receive 11 sets of tyres instead of the usual 13. The format also specifies which tyre compounds they must use for each of the three qualifying phases.

In Q1, all 20 drivers must run on hard tyres. Those who reach Q2 are permitted only to complete the session on mediums, with the ten who reach Q3 only allowed to do so on softs.

Following the cancellation of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix last month, RaceFans understands the format will be trialled during the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend at the Hungaroring.

The intervening races offered few opportunities to test the format as some tyres were already being shipped. The Austrian Grand Prix at the start of next month will be the second sprint race event of the year and the British Grand Prix will see the introduction of a new tyre compound.

Pirelli’s motorsport director, Mario Isola, said ahead of the cancelled Imola race that the ATA was being tested for environmental factors, rather than sporting reasons.

“[The] reduction – from 13 to 11 – of the sets of dry tyres that each driver has available for the entire event,” Isola said. “Therefore decreasing the environmental impact generated by the production and transport of the tyres.”

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