Carlos Sainz Jnr has welcomed F1’s decision to drop its Q3 tyre rule, saying it will make races much fairer.
The rule, which was introduced in 2014, required all drivers who reached Q3 to start the race on the tyres they used to set their quickest lap time in Q2. It has been removed from the sporting regulations for 2022, meaning all drivers have a free choice of tyre to start the race on.
“I think it’s more fair,” Sainz told media including RaceFans in Bahrain.
The regulation had been criticised by drivers who felt it handed an advantage to the quickest teams who were able to use a harder tyre compound at the start of the race.
Sainz the rule change could lead teams towards more conservative strategies. However he believes this is a price worth paying for more equal competition for drivers.
“The only negative thing is that probably in the races that are on the limit of the two and the one-stop, everyone will elect probably a stiffer compound and the race will become a maybe…