Lucio Cecchinello, head of the LCR team, has assured that the new MotoGP qualifying sessions, scheduled for the 2027 season, will not be as chaotic as feared. With a careful strategy in tire management, riders could find more opportunities to optimize their performance during these sessions.
During an interview broadcast at the international press conference, Cecchinello highlighted that the new format will include both Friday’s Sprint qualifiers and Saturday’s, with 22 riders competing in the same 15-minute session. This novelty has raised concerns about possible risks and congestion on the track.
However, the president of the IRTA association pointed out that the limitation on tire availability will play a fundamental role in the new dynamic. “There will only be one set of tires for the 15 minutes of Sprint qualifying, which will restrict the number of fast laps possible,” explained Cecchinello.
This measure contrasts with the current riders’ practices, who often use new tires during the last phases of practice sessions, which is considered a first qualifying round. “We will see varied strategies, such as teams waiting before going out or deciding to enter immediately to avoid possible yellow flags,” he added.
The amount of tires for Saturday’s sessions will also be reduced, with only three sets available during Q1 and Q2 sessions. This will add more complexity to resource management by the teams.
The modifications to the format were suggested by the teams themselves, and Cecchinello’s reflections highlight that they have been carefully considered. In addition, the warm-up session has been eliminated to allow more viewing time before entering the grid.
“MotoGP tires are specially designed for a specific temperature range. We have observed that the morning conditions are not the same as during the race in the afternoon,” Cecchinello pointed out regarding the schedule change.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
