F-1 qualifying is knockout qualifying.

Q-1 everyone has a shot at posting the fastest lap time they can, and it's a 20 minute session.

The slowest 7 cars are eliminated, and their spots on the grid are fixed based on teh times they posted.

Q-2 the remaining 17 cars have 15 minutes to post the fastest lap time they can.

Again, the slowest 7 cars are eliminated, and their spots on the grid are fixed based on teh times they posted. leaving 10 cars. The fastest lap times are actually posted during Q-2.

Q-3, everyone has 10 minutes to post the fastest lap times they can.

The catch? You start the race on the tires you post your fast lap with. The lap times tend to be slower in Q-3 because no one wants to race on a set of shagged out tires.