At each Grand Prix meeting all race drivers may participate in two one-hour practice sessions on Friday (Thursday at Monaco), two 45-minute practice sessions on Saturday, and a two-part qualifying session on Saturday.
While practice is not compulsory, a driver must participate in the qualifying session to be eligible for the race. In qualifying, drivers get two flying laps in which to set a time, one in each part of the session. Each flying lap is, of course, preceded by an out-lap and followed by an in-lap.
In both parts of the qualifying session the drivers run one at a time in a pre-determined order. In the first part they run in the finishing order of the previous race, with the race winner going first, and in the second part they run in reverse order of the times set in the first part, the slowest driver going first. In each part, the qualifying runs are split into four groups of five drivers, with a short break between each group. There is a two-minute break between the first and second parts of the session.
The timing of the qualifying runs is such that, while more than one driver will be on track simultaneously, no more than one driver will be on his flying lap at any given time and no driver should be hindered by another during his flying lap. If a driver fails to leave the pits for his run when required he can take no further part in that part of the session.
If a driver stops on the circuit during his out-lap, he is out of that part of the session, and the following driver will only be released once the stricken car is in a safe position. If a driver stops on his flying lap he is similarly out of that part of the session. The red flags will be brought out signalling the driver currently on his out-lap to return to the pits. He will be allowed to refuel and change tyres ahead of a second qualifying attempt.
Each driver can nominate two cars for use in the qualifying session and both must carry identical fuel loads. If a driver stops on track during the first part of the session, he may not use that car in the second part.
The grid for the race will be determined by the times set in the session, with the fastest driver taking pole position. Any driver who fails to set a time will start from the back of the grid. If more than one driver fails to set a time they will start the race in the reverse of their starting order for the first part of qualifying.