UpdateF1 >> Formula 1 News > A1GP gets powerboost in qualfying

One shot for four segments

A1 Teams will get the chance to play a PowerBoost ‘joker’ in qualifying tomorrow, with a new rule aimed at adding a new strategic element to Saturdays.
The functionality of the new A1GP Powered by Ferrari car allows for the PowerBoost button to be available for an entire lap of Qualifying, and teams will be allowed to use it for one of their four flying laps.

The PowerBoost button gives an extra 60bhp on application, so the ability to use it throughout a lap is likely to make a significant difference to the car’s capability.

A1GP qualifying is split into four ten-minute segments. A team’s fastest single lap from either the first or second segment decides the Sprint race grid position, with a team’s fastest single lap from either the third of fourth segment determining the order for the Feature race grid.

Teams will get to decide in which segment they play their joker, making the decision to deploy it for the Sprint or Feature race qualifying instrumental in determining how their race day could develop.

“It will give us about 10 km/h more speed on the straight, so it is going to be a big gain over the whole lap,” Albuquerque told A1GP.com. “I would say it will make us up to a second per lap quicker here in Malaysia.

“We have to be careful of going much faster into the corners than we are used to and not lose the car. The drivers will have to push through that”.

Teams will have one opportunity to use it in free practice to familiarise themselves with the system.

Written: Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:38:25