[Rules] Let's extend the Belgian Grand Prix to 400km

[NaBUru38]

F1 should have just one race per weekend. If there are two with equal length, there wouldn't be one true winner per weekend, and I wouldn't tolerate that. If there was a sprint+feature format, the longer should be put in the end to make sure that everyone understands that its winner is the weekend winner. But the sprint race should be put in the end too, because if it was held first drivers would drive conservatively to make it to the feature race. That's a contradiction, therefore I'm against multiple races in a weekend. That's for F1 - I accept that championships based on the concept of fun (Superleague, Top Race, IROC) and development races have multiple races per weekend.

I like BootsOntheSide's criteria to determine the number of laps. I mean the "number of times the pole lap would go into X minutes", but with different minutes depending on the circuit. Currently, races on faster tracks always last less time than races on slower tracks, and I dislike that. I like that Monza lasts 1:20 and Monaco 1:45 in dry conditions, but I would also like a longer race in a fast track (Spa, 1:40) and a shorter race on a slower track (Hungaroring!, 1:20)

[NaBUru38]

F1 is about the best driver winning, and the current qualifying system reflects that. Grid reversing can be fun, but goes against that.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by JeremySmith

What is wrong with it as it is?

As the old saying goes, if ain't broke don't fix it.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

F1 is about the best driver winning, and the current qualifying system reflects that. Grid reversing can be fun, but goes against that.

LOL no it's not.

F1 is about the best car winning. The driver comes second.

[NaBUru38]

I'd say that I forgot that part. Schumacher in a Minardi won't win races. Hill in a Williams won a championship in 1996, but when he got a better teammate (Villeneuve) he didn't.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Matt

LOL no it's not.

F1 is about the best car winning. The driver comes second.

That's debatable.

[johntt]

Originally Posted by zac510

Maybe we can shorten the **** ones like Bahrain, Abu Dhabi and lengthen the good ones like Monza, Spa, etc

5 laps for Bahrain/Abu Dhabi

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by johntt

5 laps for Bahrain/Abu Dhabi

Each or between them?

[NaBUru38]

That wouldn't work for Abu Dhabi because you wouldn't have the day-to-hight transition...

[bjohnsonsmith]

Personally if there has to be a Gulf-State GP, limit it to one and bring back the French GP.

[Dutton]

I am going to broach an idea of mine again, which I have not broached in a fair while. The minor details may be altered, but the idea remains.

Qualifying happens on (theoretically identical - with [theoretically] identical set-up) motorcycles. The teams have absolutely no impact on anything. It is all done by agreed third party contractors, which, as far as possible, have as little connection as possible with F1. The bikes are arranged in a 3-3-3-3-3 type format at an entrance to the track. The rider to use each bike is drawn, and the position in the "sitting field" for each bike is drawn after the drivers have been drawn.

The final draw finishes 10 minutes before the session begins. The bikes are arranged on the "grid" before the qualifying session begins. The session begins with an old-style Le Mans start.

Then it is a 60 minute session.

You are permitted one change of the front tyre, and one change of the rear tyre. There is one type of tyre designated the front, and one type of tyre designated the rear. If a random tyre failure fecks you, and your changes are up, then tough luck.

A rider can come to the pits, but there can be absolutely no changes at all (other than aforementioned tyre scenario). If your bikes fails, or you get taken out, or whatever, then tough luck.

[ASCII Man]

Bikes?

What?

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Dutton

I am going to broach an idea of mine again, which I have not broached in a fair while. The minor details may be altered, but the idea remains.

Qualifying happens on (theoretically identical - with [theoretically] identical set-up) motorcycles. The teams have absolutely no impact on anything. It is all done by agreed third party contractors, which, as far as possible, have as little connection as possible with F1. The bikes are arranged in a 3-3-3-3-3 type format at an entrance to the track. The rider to use each bike is drawn, and the position in the "sitting field" for each bike is drawn after the drivers have been drawn.

The final draw finishes 10 minutes before the session begins. The bikes are arranged on the "grid" before the qualifying session begins. The session begins with an old-style Le Mans start.

Then it is a 60 minute session.

You are permitted one change of the front tyre, and one change of the rear tyre. There is one type of tyre designated the front, and one type of tyre designated the rear. If a random tyre failure fecks you, and your changes are up, then tough luck.

A rider can come to the pits, but there can be absolutely no changes at all (other than aforementioned tyre scenario). If your bikes fails, or you get taken out, or whatever, then tough luck.

What if some of the drivers have never ridden a bike before?

[Born Racer]

Let's extend it to 400k. I've just got my 3-day tickets to the Grand Prix.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Have you got good seats?

[Born Racer]

Does my cool box count?

Nah, it's too expensive for me to get Grandstand seats, so I've got bronze general admission.

[bjohnsonsmith]

I haven't been to Silverstone in years.

[Born Racer]

I went there in 1998- my first (and only until now) live Grand Prix experience. Hakkinen spun off in front of us just after Bridge. Schumacher won the race in the pitlane.

Never thought I'd see Schumacher in action again.

Forgive me my self-indulgent thread-hijacking excitement here.

I just had to share the thrill with someone.

[bjohnsonsmith]

That's fairenough. My first race was the Daily Express Trophy in 1973 but Brands was my local track as my folks live in E. Sussex and in the states it's Laguna Seca.

[Pingguest]

To me there's nothing wrong with the current race distance.

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

F1 is about the best driver winning, and the current qualifying system reflects that.

Since 2003 this is not the case any more.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Pingguest

To me there's nothing wrong with the current race distance.

I agree. If the distance is increased either bigger fuel tanks will be needed, or pitstops will have to be reintroduced so the cars can complete the distance. Either way more fuel will be needed putting up costs.

As the saying goes, "If it ain't broke don't fix it".

[NaBUru38]

Pingguest, the current qualifying system puts on pole the fastest driver... under tight time conditions, I agree. But that still qualifies as "being the best", unlike partial or full grid reversing.

[strider]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

I agree. If the distance is increased either bigger fuel tanks will be needed, or pitstops will have to be reintroduced so the cars can complete the distance. Either way more fuel will be needed putting up costs.

As the saying goes, "If it ain't broke don't fix it".

That says it for me, too.