An out lap is the lap a Formula 1 driver completes immediately after leaving the pit lane. During the out lap, the driver works to bring their fresh tyres up to operating temperature — weaving from side to side, braking hard and accelerating to generate heat. In qualifying, a strong out lap is essential to ensure the tyres are ready to perform on the following flying lap. In a race, the out lap after a pit stop determines how quickly the driver can rejoin the battle at race pace.
Example: The team have left him on a very long out lap in qualifying — they want those tyres absolutely ready for the flying lap.
The out lap itself is not timed for the qualifying result — only the subsequent flying lap counts. But the out lap directly determines how good that flying lap will be.
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