The 107% rule requires a driver to set a qualifying time within 107% of the fastest Q1 time.
Its purpose is to prevent cars that are significantly too slow from starting a Formula One race. If the circuit is dry, a driver eliminated in the first qualifying session who fails to meet the threshold is normally not allowed to start. Race stewards can sometimes permit the driver to compete if there are exceptional circumstances or convincing prior pace.
For example, if the fastest Q1 lap is 100 seconds, the 107% limit is 107 seconds. A driver recording 107.1 seconds would be outside the automatic qualifying window. The calculation uses elapsed lap time, not a percentage of speed.
The rule was first used in Formula One from 1996 and was removed after the qualifying format changed. It returned in 2011 when knockout qualifying was in place. Modern regulations also include important nuances: the rule is generally not enforced when qualifying takes place in wet conditions, and meeting it does not guarantee a driver will avoid other sporting penalties.