F1 Qualifying

[Schume]

As expected a new F1 Qualifying scheme is being proposed by the FIA.
This was on the ITV-F1 site:


"Major changes to the Grand Prix qualifying procedure are expected next year if proposals put forward by the FIA this week are accepted by the Formula 1 teams.

The sport’s governing body wants to banish testing from all 17 GP circuits and replace Friday’s free practice with one six-hour testing session.

The plans are not expected to encounter much opposition as many teams are already upset at the current set-up which they claim causes unnecessary tyre wastage.

Among those in favour of the FIA’s scheme, which could be implemented next season, are F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, world championship leader Michael Schmacher, Jean Todt of Ferrari and BMW’s Gerhard Berger.

Benetton team manager Flavio Briatore also backed the proposals, saying: “Eliminating testing and giving everyone the chance to run for six hours on the Friday before the race would leave the public and sponsors happy, and mean the teams would save money.” "

[Peter Mallett]

Er. How many cars and engines etc. would they need to take to each GP weekend then?

[Crash Test]

What about testing new initiatives?
New cars?
What if there is a major problem with a component, how would this be rectifed?
Wouldn't the top teams still find ways around it?
What about the other classes using the track over the weekend?
I dont like it, i dont think it will happen....but what would i know?

[Cameron]

Sounds to me to be a bodge up to vary the occupant of pole position, i.e. not necessarily the fastet car but the one that stays together longest.

I thought F1 was about being the pinnacle of car design if that is so testing forms a vital element otherwise instead of advances people will err on proven designs. Mind you that's the way (e.g. tyres) I suppose things have ben going.

[Minardi fan]

It won't happen.

[Gerard]

Hmm, I don't know.
Bernie Ecclestone usually gets what he wants.
Besides, when Ferrari wants it (Todt) and BMW (Berger) and even Renault (Briatore) I think they have a strong package there.

[EERO]

We can hope can't we-it certainly sounds like a good idea.

[Gt_R]

Banish testing on the 17GP circuits....and Ferrari fully agrees with this idea....Why??? Because they still can continue testing at their own test tracks...Fiorano, Mugello, etc....while McLarens are out in the cold???...hehehe..
(All I did was fix the "smiley"-E.)
[Edited by EERO on 6th July 2000]

[MichaelC]

GTR, I assume that the other teams will still be abke to test at non-GP circuits such as Kyalami etc. Speaking of which, why not hold an F1 test at Donnington...

[Mr.S]

I'm not familier with the sport here, do you have to pay to test at a track, or is it an FIA arranged thing?

[Minardi fan]

More details:

The new rules would ban testing at the 17 GP tracks from January up until the GP itself - therefore say, after Silverstone, testing would be allowed there.

[Jay]

This year teams were allowed to test at Catalunya, Silverstone, Magny Cours and Monza before the Grand Prix weekend. So for those 4 races the teams had their setups already figured out, so Friday was pointless. Testing of new components can be done almost anywhere from Jerez to Kyalami, it does not have to be a GP circuit.

So the only real change I see is that there won't be any preseason testing at GP circuits, and Friday will be one 6 hour practice session. Come Saturday we will still have the same qualifying order as we would with this year's method.

It might work if they banned testing outside a GP weekend all together, with the exception of say 2 tests in the preseason.

[Valve Bounce]

This would be interesting. The richer eams will be able to make better use of this. However, I can see long periods with no cars on the tracks - like hours on end. That will change Bernie's mind once it happenes. Stiil the idea is good, because some drivers this year were always complaining they did not have enough time to set up their cars for some races. 6 hours should be more than enough.