Qualifying The starting order for the race is determined during qualifying. The driver with the fastest lap time qualifies for the best starting place: pole position. Currently, qualifying is divided into three sessions (commonly referred to as Q1, Q2 and Q3) with the slowest drivers dropping out at the end of each of the first two sessions before the top 10 is decided in the final session. From 2010, the drivers in Q3 will have to start the race on the same set of tyres that they set their fastest lap time on.  Formula 1 Explained - Glossary and Dictionary - An A to Z of F1 |