I’ve noticed from watching last season and this one that during the final third of qualifying, all cars seem to box for a bit and then go back out when there’s only 4-5 minutes remaining.
Why do they do this, what’s the strategy in that?
#Why does Q3 always end with everyone in the pits followed by a huge push?
raw tangle
long minnow
The track gets quicker over time, which means it’s the fastest at the end of the session. This happens by the cars loosing tiny amounts of rubber from the tires when driving, which sticks to the track and provides better grip.
whole karma
The strategy is applied in all 3 Qualifying stages. Set a benchmark, then optimise for improvements. The rush at the end generally is so they can maximise time for improvements in each session, get a feel of the competition, and put up a similar time based on the conditions everyone else is facing.
If they feel they've underperformed in the first massively, they do send the cars out early so they can maybe do another end lap with others. Weather conditions also come into play along with the right tire temperatures based on the type of tires.
But essentially they gotta manage fuel to have the quickest possible car, have the track conditions in their favour, and compete with the rest. Generally it's expected to be done within 2 full laps with the fastest machine possible during the entire weekend.