I have this strange feeling that the grip level is the same on race day as it is in qualy...but that might be wishful thinking
Nonononono ... defo not ... at least not in my experience.
On a 1 min 30 or 40 sec lap, you should be a good 1 second or so quicker in quali.
Track temps are usually up quite considerably (5 or 10ºC often), which is more optimal for just a few hotlaps, but if the track temps were to remain at those higher temps, your tyres would cook quicker than a quick thing.
I always assumed the idea was to increase the grip level in quali to simulate softer/qualifying tyres, then reduce it to normal levels again for the race and to simulate harder compounds and stop you melting your tyres or overheating your engine after something like 5 laps.
Try it ... start up a race ... put it on changeable, then advance through each session. Look at the "session info" for track and air temps.
Drive a 4 or 5 laps in each session with the same setup and fuel load, you should feel a big difference and also see it in your laptimes, check the temps of your tyres and water/oil when you stop in the setup screen ... in quali they will more than likely be much higher.
(even better and more noticeable if you use something like Dingo's real time telemetry tool to see what is going on with temps etc). :good: