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Originally Posted by Beryl
How are split Q sessions and parc ferme regulations artificial? The former is just another form of sport and a type of qualifying format. The latter is a simply a motor racing regulation.
I'd say DRS and reverse grids are what you refer to as "artificial", the rest are just aspects of motorsport. KERS and tyres are the same for everyone, it's just another aspect of the sport.
If you can justify the classic safety car because of safety, you can justify KERS for it's green image and improvement of fuel economy. It's limited to reduce costs and so every one has the same/similar benefit from KERS. If it was unlimited, there would be a KERS arms race as a more efficient KERS system would become a huge advantage in F1. The smaller teams would fall further off the pace.
KERS keeps F1 road relevant and it's limited for good reason, I see no problem there.
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The split Q sessions and parc ferme the way it operates now combine to be artificial - the teams can't change springs, ratios etc on the cars so Q is often compromised artificially; teams choose to sit out Q to improve their race opportunities - two of them did this as recently as Germany. Sure, they are rules of the sport but very artificial ones, which is of course what we're discussing here.
I'm fine with KERS per se, it's the artificial restriction of the time it can operate per lap that is well, artificial. The best way to have real road relevance would be to have unlimited KERS as that would push teams to develop better and more cutting edge systems, which could then flow back into the road car world in a much better way, provide commercial opportunity for teams and go back to "racing improving the breed".
Take your point on cost containment but the time restriction is most definitely artificial - it effectively produces a "push to pass" or "push to defend" system that ends up with drivers taking a punt to use it to for example keep a car behind just enough to avoid DRS. All good, that's a skill but one that the punters can't see and a very artificial form of racing.