What is parc fermé in Formula 1?

Parc fermé (French for "closed park") is the technical regime that starts when cars leave the garage for the qualifying session (Q1, Q2 and Q3) and continues until the start of the race. Under this regime, teams cannot change the car's setup, except for a very narrow list of adjustments allowed by the FIA.

What teams can do under parc fermé

Despite the name, it is not a total lockout. Teams can:

• Change tyres.
• Top up fluids (fuel, oil, coolant).
• Adjust front wing angle within a fixed range.
• Repair damage from incidents.
• Replace broken parts with identical ones.

What teams cannot do

• Change overall aerodynamic setup (rear wing, suspension, ride height).
• Modify engine maps beyond allowed modes.
• Swap the full chassis.
• Change the gearbox before its regulatory life ends.

¿Te gustó este artículo?

Pon a prueba lo que aprendiste con nuestra app oficial Formula Trivia One Master.

Ver App Gratis

What happens if a team breaks parc fermé

If a team makes a prohibited change, the driver is forced to start from the pit lane rather than from the grid. This is a common penalty when, for example, a team decides to rework the setup because weather conditions changed between qualifying and race.

When it starts and ends

On Sprint weekends, parc fermé is active for both Sprint qualifying and race qualifying separately, with a setup window between events.

Frequently asked questions

Why does parc fermé exist? To prevent teams with more resources from making deep changes between qualifying and race, levelling the playing field.

Can the front wing be adjusted? Yes, within an FIA-authorised range.

What if it rains on race day? The car stays under parc fermé. Tyres can be adapted but not suspension or general aerodynamics.

Who enforces parc fermé? FIA technical scrutineers supervise compliance inside the garage.

Enjoy the technical and regulatory side of F1? Test your knowledge with Trivia Formula Uno, available for iOS and Android.