Race start

The grid

The order in which cars begin the race (either on the grid or behind the Safety Car) is primarily determined by the results of Qualifying, with two exceptions: any grid penalties incurred by drivers, and any factors inhibiting a driver from starting the race. The highly complex procedure for determining this order is set out by the Sporting Regulations at Article 42.3 and is explained below, followed by an illustrative example.

1. Establish the total sum of grid penalties incurred by each driver.
2. For each driver with 15 or less places of total grid penalties, and who was classified in qualifying, sum their qualifying position and their total penalties. Assign each of these drivers to the grid position corresponding to this value. Where multiple drivers have the same position, the driver classified the slowest among them in Qualifying takes that position, with the other drivers taking places ahead in order of qualifying position.
3. Fill the remaining spots on the grid with classified, unpenalized drivers, with drivers taking positions in order of their Qualifying result.
4. If at this point any gaps in the grid order exist, shuffle drivers up in order to fill them.
5. Following on from the last driver on the current grid, fill the remaining places with classified drivers that have accrued more than 15 cumulative grid position penalties, or who have been penalised to start at the back of the grid. Relative positions among these drivers are determined solely by Qualifying result (i.e. each is considered to have been penalised equally).
6. Any drivers unclassified in Qualifying that have nonetheless been permitted to participate in Qualifying will then be placed on the grid after all classified drivers, with relative positions amongst them determined by Qualifying position.

Grid penalties are imposed by the Stewards for a variety of infractions, and are further explained at Penalties and other Remedies. Also available is the penalty of starting “from the back of the grid”, although this is rarely used. As is evident from the above procedure, where a driver incurs more than 15 places worth of grid penalties, it is taken to be equivalent to starting from the back of the grid. This is most common where a driver has taken multiple penalties for exceeding the number of allocated components. A driver may be required to start from the pit lane for certain infractions, typically connected to change of car parts under parc ferme conditions. This results in a special procedure for such a car, discussed below at start procedure.

Grid allocation example – starting grid for the 2021 Russian Grand Prix

Following a dramatic and wet session, the Qualifying classification for the 2021 Russian Grand Prix was as follows:

Post grid-allocation changes

Even following final grid allocation, which typically occurs two hours before the scheduled start of the race, it is possible for events to occur that alter the order of the cars starting the race.

Where a car is required to start from the pit lane (for instance, due to a mechanical issue or failure to move away from the grid during the formation lap), that car is physically withdrawn from the grid, however the grid positions of other cars do not change to compensate.

If a driver receives a penalty between the issue of the final starting grid and the start of the race, it appears to be the practice of the FIA that a time penalty rather than a grid penalty is given. At the 2020 Russian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton completed two practice starts outside the area permitted by the Race Director’s Instructions during the reconnaissance laps prior to race start. He was issued with a 5 second penalty for each infraction, rather than a grid penalty. It is however worth noting that these infractions do not carry a mandatory penalty, and thus the Stewards had discretion to award either a grid or time penalty. It is unclear whether a similar approach would be taken where the Sporting Regulations mandate a grid penalty.

Race start procedure

Forty minutes prior to the scheduled start of the race, cars are permitted to perform reconnaissance laps of the circuit, however they must pass through the pitlane between reconnaissance laps in order to avoid conflicting with procedures on the grid.

As a car has completes its final reconnaissance lap, it must line up on the grid in its designated grid position. Any car that fails to do so prior to 30 minutes before the scheduled start of the formation lap is required to start the race from the pitlane.

A “formation lap” will begin following a series of audio and visual signals counting down through ten minutes, five minutes, three minutes, one minute, and 15 seconds. This lap does not count towards the length of the race. If, prior to the commencement of the formation lap, the Race Director decides the race start should be delayed, the start procedure will be suspended at the ten-minute mark until the Race Director determines it should proceed. This is most common where there is heavy rain.

At the commencement of the formation lap, the starter lights will be illuminated green, and each car is required to proceed around the circuit following the lead car. Any car that fails to do so will be pushed by marshals into the pitlane, and must start from there (if at all).

Overtaking is prohibited during the formation lap, unless failing to do so would unduly delay the remainder of the field. The overtaken car may re-take its position, however if they fail to do so they will be required to start from the pitlane.

At the conclusion of the formation lap, each car must take its allocated position on the grid. Here, it is important to note that if a car is missing from the grid for any reason, other cars are not permitted to ‘backfill’ its grid spot.

Once all cars have stopped on the grid, the starter lights will illuminate from one through five over the course of five seconds, before pausing for a randomised period before all extinguishing. The extinguishing of the lights signifies the start of the race.

If, for any reason, a car is immobilised on the grid following the formation lap, it will be pushed into the pitlane by the marshals and must start from there (if at all).

In such a scenario, and in any other scenario in which it is not possible to start the race following the formation lap (for instance, a car stopped on the track), an extra formation lap will occur. This will count as a completed lap for the purposes of the duration of the race.

If, at any point following the commencement of the formation lap the Race Director deems that the race start should not proceed, the start will be aborted and all cars must return to the grid and await the 10-minute signal for the commencement of a new formation lap The partially completed formation lap will count as a completed lap for the purposes of the duration of the race.

Breaches of standing start procedure

There are three primary ways in which a competitor can breach the standing start procedure:

1. A ‘jump start’: moving between the illumination of the 4th red light and the extinguishing of the lights; or
2. Positioning the car in such a way that the transponder is unable to detect the moment of the car’s first movement; or
3. Positioning any part of the contact patch of the front tyres outside the lines of the grid box.

In case of such a breach, the Stewards may impose a five or ten second time penalty, or a drive through penalty. The Stewards do not take into account the materiality of a jump start in determining whether a breach has occurred, however it does affect the ultimate decision as to the severity of the penalty.

Pitlane starts

In certain circumstances cars will be required to start from the pitlane. Where multiple cars are required to do so, their relative order will be determined by qualifying result. If, however, a car reaches the end of the pitlane with less than five minutes until the formation lap, it must start behind any car already there. Circumstances in which cars must start from the pitlane include:

1. Impermissible changes to the car under parc ferme;
2. Failing to get underway at the commencement of the formation lap;
3. Losing position and failing to retake it during the formation lap;
4. Breaches by team personnel of isolation of the car in the final stages of the race start.

Cars starting from the pitlane may begin the race after the whole field has passed the end of the pit lane for the first time after the race start.

Starts under the Safety Car

Where track conditions are considered unsuitable to begin the race on account of rain, the formation lap may be conducted under the safety car. The use of wet tires (the ‘full wet’, not the intermediate) is mandatory for a start conducted under the safety car. Any formation laps conducted under the safety car beyond the initial are considered completed laps for the purpose of the race distance.

It is not permissible to change tyre compound during the safety car formation laps. The consequent penalty is a ten second stop-and-go.

Overtaking is also not permissible, save for where it is unavoidable or the overtaken car is delayed/experiencing an issue. Cars who are overtaken may retake their position prior to the race start. Should they fail to do so, they must either start the race from the pit lane (in the case of a standing start) or start from the position they are in (in the case of a rolling start).

The Race Director has two options for the start of a race where the formation lap has been under Safety Car.

1. If the track conditions are considered suitable to start the race from the grid, the Safety Car will pull away and into the pits, while the competitors will take their positions on the grid and perform a standard race start.
2. If the track conditions remain unsuitable for a standing start, the Safety Car will pull away and return to the pits. The leading car will control the pace of the pack in such a way as to allow the Safety Car to return to the pits in advance of the arrival of the pack. Once the Safety Car approaches the pit entry, green flags will be shown and the cars may accelerate to racing speed. Overtaking becomes permissible once a given car has passed the Control Line. For the purposes of assessing the commencement and distance of the race, the race begins when the leading car crosses the Control Line.

A Safety Car start procedure may be suspended in the usual manner, however:

1. The only option available for the start is a rolling start;
2. Full wet tires must be used; and
3. The race is deemed to have started when the Safety Car leaves the pit lane to for the second attempt at the start procedure.