MotoGP is discussing separate qualifying sessions for the Sprint and Sunday’s Grand Prix. Motorsport.com reported on September 18 that teams, manufacturers and organisers are considering the proposal, with implementation targeted for 2027, although the formal process still has to be completed. The change concerns how the two grids are determined. Adding a third qualifying segment is a separate suggestion mentioned in the same report.
Under the current system, missing out in Q1 affects both grids
MotoGP’s official explanation of the current format states that the ten fastest riders in Friday afternoon Practice advance directly to the second qualifying session, Q2. The others first contest Q1, with its fastest two riders progressing. Q2 determines the top 12 positions; those who do not advance are ranked from 13th onwards according to their Q1 times. These are stages within a single qualifying process: Q1 and Q2 do not correspond to the Sprint and Grand Prix respectively.
This week’s Austrian round provides a concrete example. In the official Q1 results published on September 19, Johann Zarco and Francesco Bagnaia both recorded 1m28.753s to occupy the top two places. Raul Fernandez was third in 1m28.871s, just 0.118s behind, but did not reach Q2. Under the current system, the highest qualifying position available to him was 13th, a cut-off affecting the starting order for both races.
Making progress in the Sprint does not reset Sunday’s grid, either. The official explanation makes clear that both grids are based on qualifying performance, and the Sprint result does not affect the Grand Prix starting order. Riders therefore have two opportunities to score points after qualifying, but cannot improve their Sunday starting position through their Sprint result. The actual grid may still be adjusted by penalties and other changes.
The timetable and Q3 proposal still need separate decisions
According to Motorsport.com, stakeholders have responded positively to the idea of separate qualifying for the two races, but the weekend timetable remains to be decided. The report expects MotoGP to retain a late Saturday afternoon slot for the Sprint. One participant in the discussions is also advocating a three-stage Q1, Q2 and Q3 format. The former is a reported scheduling idea and the latter a proposal from one party; neither amounts to a fully approved format.
INKA SPORTS analysis: Which risk would separate qualifying change?
The Austrian Q1 example shows how the current system carries the consequences of one failure to advance into both grids. If the Sprint and Grand Prix each had independent qualifying, a rider would have another opportunity to secure a better position in the other session. One poor qualifying result would not necessarily carry over to both races. That changes the reach of a setback; it does not guarantee that Fernandez or any other rider would be faster on a second attempt.
Adding Q3 addresses a different issue: how riders competing for the front rows are progressively selected within one qualifying event. Even with three stages, if the same final classification still determines both grids, that qualifying result will continue to affect both races. Assessing the reform therefore requires two separate questions: how many starting orders are produced, and how many elimination stages produce each one. An extra stage is not the same as an extra independent opportunity.
Independent opportunities also require preparation time. Under the current format, riders who qualify directly for Q2 do not contest the 15-minute Q1 session, while the others must first compete for its two transfer places. Eligibility, session length and tyre allocations under a new format will determine the additional qualifying laps riders must undertake. If the changes take time away from existing practice sessions, teams’ preparation time will also change. Those details are needed before the trade-off between extra opportunities and workload can be assessed; it is too early to quantify the safety or competitive effects.
Conclusion
The main significance of the separate-qualifying proposal is the possibility of determining the Sprint and Grand Prix grids independently, reducing the occasions when one qualifying setback affects both races. The Q3 proposal instead changes the elimination structure within one qualifying event. Austria’s 0.118s Q1 cut-off illustrates why the current threshold matters, but cannot prove that a second qualifying session would produce a better result. As of September 19, the discussions still await the formal process and a timetable. The next questions concern participation, session duration and preparation resources, before any expected benefits can be judged.
