Alexander Albon has identified potential solutions for the challenges evident in F1 qualifying sessions, prompted by the pit-lane incidents involving Williams and Haas at the Chinese Grand Prix. He has put forth his proposal to address these issues.
Albon suggests implementing split-qualifying in Formula 1 as a measure to mitigate some of the strategic maneuvers witnessed during the grid-setting phases.
The sport has grappled with instances of questionable behavior for some time, but a particular incident during the qualifying session for the Chinese Grand Prix drew significant attention.
Nico Hulkenberg attracted scrutiny after being observed accelerating down the slower section of the pit lane, leading to an investigation by the stewards. Consequently, the Haas driver received a reprimand. Albon, meanwhile, voiced his observations regarding the incident over team radio.
In his remarks to the media following the session, the Williams driver explained, “I said it to make sure he [Nico Hulkenberg] didn’t come out in front of me.” He further added, “Normally, Kevin [Magnussen] and Nico [Hulkenberg] like to get their elbows out, so it was more just to keep them in check.”
However, Albon acknowledged the inevitability of such occurrences, considering the various factors influencing drivers’ efforts to achieve optimal performance over a single lap.
“It’s going to happen – it’s happening more and more. You know we’ve got this minimum delta time now and Suzuka and here [China], everyone’s running it to the minimum – trying to be just legal and being as slow as possible with these high deg[redation] tracks.”
Albon elaborated on the challenge of securing an optimal position in the pit-lane queue and subsequently on the track, emphasizing the delicate balance required to avoid waiting excessively at the pit exit while also ensuring not to fall too far behind in the queue.
He described the situation as “a bit of a game” that unfolds between the teams and drivers.
“It just creates a bit of a mess,” he stated. “But we’re okay. I don’t mind it because we’re [Williams are] kind of in the middle [of the pit lane], so we can be a bit selective when we come out.
“Obviously, for a top team, it’s a bigger issue – but they’ll be quick anyway, so it doesn’t matter,” he joked.
The two-time podium finisher did offer a potential solution to the problem, pinpointing the number of cars as a contributing factor, especially on smaller circuits.
“I’ve always been keen on the idea of doing a split quali[fying]. Q1, two groups and we’d get rid of the Austria, Red Bull Ring issue,” he responded when queried about the possibility of finding a solution or if the pit-lane incidents were a trade-off for avoiding similar issues on the track.
“When the tracks are big enough, I don’t think we need it, like Silverstone or Spa, for example.
“You could make the Q1s shorter and everyone has like, I don’t know, the same time as Q2 and just go out and do it – but maybe not, maybe that’s a stupid idea.”
