What do we think about the new qualifying format?

[JeremySmith]

Well I think like most things F1, they are trying to reinvent the wheel..

[JeremySmith]

Originally Posted by Dutton

Or just don't have a lap limit.

Just a time limit then, that would work as well..One lap or thirty laps it's up to the team..

[duke_toaster]

It's a shame F1 doesn't have more cars (thirty-two would be right for this), a system like Red Bull Air Race would be really good ...

[TFHarv]

The problem as I recall was that in the one hour 12 lap format they all stayed in till the last possible second then went hell for leather in the last few mins.

If they made it so the race finish position was the order in which you had to be out of the pits at certain times ( so last position had to be out on the circuit within the first 5 mins of qualifying and then had staggered times that they had to be on track for - so all teams had to be on track for 20 mins of the one hour session but had to do so much in there stint ( point scorers did middle 20 mins best of rest did first 20 mins and last in the race get to do the last 20 mins to get the best qualifying time then winning a race would have more significance to strategy and the qualifying sessions would be full of cars trying to get pole

Something that made most of the cars be out on the track for most of the session not just splash and dash.

I agree that burning fuel is not eco-f1 freindly but making the cars be on circuit pushing hard for the majority of the session would make much more sense and give the viewers much more to get excited about.

[Satorian]

I like the fuel parc ferme. It introduces some amount of strategy and uncertainty that makes the race more interesting during the beginning. If fuel was free to be changed, we'd get the quickest cars in front for the race and they'd stay there with the optimum strategy. The current fuel rule keeps you guessing where cars really stand in terms of performance and this makes it a bit more interesting to me than knowing exactly which car will bring home a start-finish lead win.

What I would change though is to use compound times for qualifying progression. 16 best Q1 times get into Q2, 10 best Q1+Q2 times get into Q3, post-Q3 grid decided by Q1+Q2+Q3 times.
I think this would ensure that teams try to get the maximum amount of laps in and will give it their all right off the bat.

[JeremySmith]

And this thread which a good one! shows why the qualifying format has been played around with so often....

[Knowlesy]

Originally Posted by Mr V

You spend 4-5 months waiting for the new F1 season, then can't wait for it to end when it's finlly here

To tell you the truth, F1 has been the series I've least been looking forward to out of the lot. (FWIW, I think I enjoyed the quali session more as a result of that).

The first session was a bit long though....it feels like there is an unnecessary extra five minute wait for the no-marks to be dumped out of the session. It's not like they are doing constant hot laps to keep us entertained.

[willb]

i did find the length of the first session to be a bit too long. quite a few teams were waiting until almost the halfway point before going out.
the suggestion about combining the times from each of the sessions might produce some interesting grids. anyone have the times for the sessions?

[Spudgun]

Originally Posted by TFHarv

The problem as I recall was that in the one hour 12 lap format they all stayed in till the last possible second then went hell for leather in the last few mins..

Personally I found the old format brilliant, being a hardcore motor racing fan. But I guess these days its all about compromise and satisfying lowest common denominator. I remember Murray and James chattering away while waiting for the cars to come out. When they finally did it was electric!

I must admit I'm not really taken with the race fuel qualifying thing. I can't remember where the quote comes from and its format exactly, but I remember somewhere reading along the lines that "Qualifying is the only time a Formula 1 car is driven how it was designed, to be the fastest over a single lap. The rest is a compromise."

[Dutton]

So I am not the only person on Earth who was perfectly satisfied with "the wait"?

[Spudgun]

Originally Posted by Dutton

So I am not the only person on Earth who was perfectly satisfied with "the wait"?

Apparently not

[Born Racer]

My call would be to have 2 15-minute elimination sessions, then a one-lap shoot-out for the top 10.

I too would like this. The problem for me is the inequality of drivers having an allocated time to go out on track (e.g. if it starts raining on a dry track, the drivers who then have to go out are disadvantaged).

[Nicholosophy]

Maybe there should be a comparison of the different qualifying formats from 1950 to now to see which direction to go next.

[Pingguest]

Originally Posted by Satorian

I like the fuel parc ferme. It introduces some amount of strategy and uncertainty that makes the race more interesting during the beginning. If fuel was free to be changed, we'd get the quickest cars in front for the race and they'd stay there with the optimum strategy. The current fuel rule keeps you guessing where cars really stand in terms of performance and this makes it a bit more interesting to me than knowing exactly which car will bring home a start-finish lead win.

I can show you statistics proving that the post-2003 parc fermé regulations have made the races more predictable.

[Knowlesy]

You can prove anything with statistics.

[Pingguest]

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

You can prove anything with statistics.

It depens on what statistics you have.

[Stefvh]

The ideal situation, for me, would be no proper qualifying session, but all the free sessions counting for the grid.

Best lap of the week-end gets the pole.