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: