Changes to Qualifying format (merged)

[Redblurr]

Qualification changes? Yes please! I agree with these though, let's get rid of the 2hr mind numbing experience first seen in Melbourne and hopefully never again.


http://www.itv-f1.com/news/news_story/20064
Renault boss Flavio Briatore said: “It was stupid for us and stupid for spectators. It was much too long for television and made no sense.

“We must get together and discuss this. Something can be done quickly if we all agree. Only the stupid never change their minds.”

I'm with Bernie on this one, he wants to bring back the free for all 1 hr extravaganza. Go on Bernie make them agree

[Aysedasi]

Originally posted by Redblurr
....let's get rid of the 2hr mind numbing experience first seen in Melbourne and hopefully never again.

Did the race last 2 hours......?

[Wrex]

Sorry, I'm not such a traditionalist that I want the old one hour sessions back.

I would prefer however, superpole with qualifying cars. ie no race fuel.

[Redblurr]

Originally posted by Aysedasi
Did the race last 2 hours......?

It was terriable I know, but Schumi showed merci and did not lap the Williams

[Aysedasi]

Probably as dull an experience as I have ever had watching motor racing. I didn't see anything of the qualifying, but if it was even more boring than the race, I sympathise with those who did watch it.....

[Bononi]

Qualifying was never good but now it has hit the bottom. Changes now !!!!!

Let's get back to the old format, or simply give 2 laps for each other in one session, it will be better than now.

[shiny side up!]

I agree with Wrex, a 'superpole' single-lap qualifying run on low fuel would make me a happy camper. Even if they were not allowed to do anything between qualy and the race but add fuel...

The old one hour format with 4 runs each is OK with me as well, and it is something that is (was) unique to F1, so it wouldn't hurt my feelings if they went back to that, either.

[Adam43]

I am not a fan of the single lap. Watching the drivers on these isn't as exciting as before IMHO.

I also don't like the fuel situation, I don't think this adds to the grid mix-up. As every starts with fuel that gives them a similar pace.

I would prefer the old system.

However perhaps as a comprimise we should have, as Wrex suggests, a single lap low fuel Q session. I prefer low fuel Q as it puts drivers together who may be running different strategies and hence the guy ahead might be slower at the start of the race (whereas now the guy ahead is quicker, because he is in the same situation as the end of Q).

[krt917]

Yes, I was just thinking the same. Ideally, go back to the original format, but if not, then a low-fuel one-lap session would be the next best thing.

[neil_davidson2]

How about combining both formats... Run for an hour on Friday with 12 laps available and then run the single shot on Saturday. And count the quickest time on Friday together with the single lap time on saturday to get the final grid positions?

The first "qualifying" hour last Saturday seemed completely aimless.

[krt917]

Quite like the idea of combining both forms, but I'm not quite so struck on the idea of combining the times. I always feel like the pole should go to the guy who has really put together that one, special effort.

Would be better than the current format, though!

[BertMk2]

How about the DTM(ish) style qualifying? Everyone goes out in qualifying 1 (low fuel) and gets x number of runs/laps over a one hour session. The quickest 10 from qualifying 1 then go on fo a single lap showdown to determine the starting order for the top 10, the remaining 10 cars start according to the positions of qualifying 1.

[krt917]

Yes, that might be an interesting idea. W0ouldn't mind seeing it if the FIA are determined not going back to the old 12-lap system.

[neil_davidson2]

That could work...

I know what you mean about pole going to the all-out lap krt, but personally I like the idea of two sessions (something on Friday preferably) but really don't see the point of the first session simply setting the running order for the second. Simply running one after the other in last race order would achieve enough of a lottery if that's what's required. I think the first session needs to count towards the grid in some way. Berts suggestion would certainly make that happen.

Oh - and yes I agree that in qualifying the cars should be able to run as quickly as they want to and not have to worry about fuel loads until race day.

[Mr V]

I much prefered the old style qualifying, more value for money, but the new system makes for better racing. (Melbourne excepted )

I'd propose going back to the old style, but with changes....

Every driver gets four 3 lap runs, each run has to be made in each 15 minute time frame of the hour, but the last run (i.e in the last 15 minutes) has to be done on race fuel, and then we see the cars go into Parc Ferme overnight as they do now.