What do we think about the new qualifying format?

[Pingguest]

The qualifying format is changed once again, resulting in the 8th format since Melbourne 2003. No refuelling is allowed during a driver's end of qualifying and his first pit stop in the race.

It reminds me to the qualifying formats used between 2003 and 2005. In my opinion the tightened post-qualifying parc fermé regulations have made the sports more complex again. Maybe too complex for some people. If the FIA really wants the parc fermé regulations, shouldn't it be better to go back to the one-lap qualifying format as well?

[Sodemo]

I now think the first part is too long and the last part too short.

I still think that they should run on fumes all the way through quali, and just let them choose their fuel levels on the grid on Sunday.

[Another Bob]

I love the 3 stage qualifying with eliminating the bottom of the pack, but.....

This 2 race engines, 4 race gearbox's, can't touch cars, penalty for this, penalty for that, parc ferme top up fuel to beginning of qualifying fuel load is so unnateral, contrived, artificial, its like a bunch of kids in a playground making up the rules to some on the spot game, so the guy in charge makes sure he makes the rules up so he wins.

You cannot tell me that making something that is pushed to the limit last longer is meant to make it cheaper!

Look at any race meeting. The guys that are on top, who will probably win, are the guys that after qualifying, change the tyres, add some fuel and give the car a wipe over then go and get a good nights sleep, verses the other end of the grid, where they pull the car to pieces and rebuild it overnight, changing engines etc, get about 2 hours sleep. Now if you make the bottom end of the qualifying grid spend the money on pre meeting preparation because you lock their car away after qualifying, how can that be more cost effective?

There must be more "natural" ways to control costs.

[Red Bulldog]

I think it's great - now let's leave it alone for a few years

[Bononi]

Originally Posted by Red Bulldog

I think it's great - now let's leave it alone for a few years

If the TV is satisfied then it will be for some time like this...



But still give it some more weekends and we will see if it's really good. For a start it was Ok.

[Knowlesy]

I quite liked the shortened final session. I did find myself wondering when the first one would end, with constant glances at the timer.

Overall it's not too bad.

[JeremySmith]

I thought that it was not bad.. I much prefer that they have done away with the fuel burning stint...

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by JeremySmith

I thought that it was not bad.. I much prefer that they have done away with the fuel burning stint...

Yes,as was suggested earlier,do away with the qualifying fuel thing and let them choose what fuel load they want to use maybe an hour before the race.

[mjstallard]

Yup - totally agree. Get rid of the pre-set fuel for Q3 and may the absolutely fastest man win

[Marbot]

If they wanted to let us know what the fuel amounts were,that wouldn't be such a bad thing either.Although some are still not too at ease with the 'white line on the tyre' thing just yet.

[Burnsie]

I enjoyed the format, although like Martin Brundle I was a bit puzzled about why there wasn't a queue of cars forming in the pit lane for the start of Q3

Most people here seem to be saying that the FIA should scrap the post-qualifying refuelling restriction, and I agree completely. Bring back the days when qualifying painted a clearer picture of which cars were set up the best, and which drivers were on the pace. Teams and drivers should be able to implement whichever strategy they choose, i.e. fuel the car on Sunday for a 2-stopper, or fill it to the gills for a 1-stopper. It's impossible to decide on your race strategy on Saturday when you have no idea where you'll be starting from!

...and just to be controversial, I'd bring back the 107% rule

[mjstallard]

Yeah, it's odd that there wasn't more folk trying to make the most of a clear track. I wonder if it's got something to do with not wanting to be the first to jump like in the old days of qualifying and the fact that there's not fuel credits so people are minimising their on track time.

Not sure I agree about the 107% rule, although as you say it's a controversial choice! No one would've been excluded in this qualifying session as a result, but Super Aguri need all the help we can get and as spectators I think we need all the cars on the grid we can muster at the moment

[Mr V]

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

I did find myself wondering when the first one would end, with constant glances at the timer.

Overall it's not too bad.

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

[Burnsie]

True, Super Aguri definitely don't need the 107% rule back!

Here's one from the archive, qualifying for the 1997 European Grand prix (note the three times)

P1 Jacques Villeneuve 1:21.072
P2 Michael Schumacher 1:21.072
P3 Heinz-Harald Frentzen 1:21.072

There's almost no chance of anything this happening again under the current rules, so I wouldn't be against a complete "backward" step to open one-hour qualifying sessions with refuelling permitted before the race.

[duke_toaster]

I think that the current format is generally OK, although I would like to see the cars declaring their fuel loads after FP3 and running on fumes in Q3.

[JeremySmith]

I am happy not to know what fuel loads they are running until the first round of pit stops..We don't need to know do we?

[Dutton]

I'm hoping we are on a gradual process of moving back to pre-2003.

You know, have all-out banzai qualifying in the name of "spicing up" what some refer to as "the show"...

Anyway, as to the altered format, I think it is an overall improvement. The main thing, for me, is that they have got rid of the ludicrious fuel-burn.

[BootsOntheSide]

I don't think anybody in F1 is in favour of running on race fuel during qualifying - people want to get an impression of overall pace, and have a truly equal qualifying session where the fastest man can get pole. Having to choose the fuel load before qualifying, but qualifying on empty tanks, would be one compromise - but that excessively punishes drivers who make a mistake in qualifying and get stuck behind slower fueled-up cars.

My call would be to have 2 15-minute elimination sessions, then a one-lap shoot-out for the top 10. All done on low fuel, with fuel loads only chosen immediately before the race. Have the option of a 20-minute free-for-all if the track is damp though - that Japanese grid which was almost entirely determined by running order was a farce, even if it produced a classic race.

[Pingguest]

Well, in my opinion its not only about the fuel. The post-qualifying parc fermé regulations include the whole setup of the car. Before 2003 we saw mechanics working hard on the car. Now we see them do nothing and just watching some television. There is a clear lack of action.

In my opinion we should go to a 60 minute session without any restrictions to the laps, tyres and engines. This will make a huge distinction between the qualifying pace and race pace. We wouldn't get the fastest race driver on pole that often any more. A return to the tyre war and a ban on pit stops would make the distinction between qualifying pace and race pace even bigger.

Apart from that, with the current rules we will never see something like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6hZ_IsJaCI

[Ralf's Girl]

I like the changes that have been made - the first session is perhaps a tad long, but the final one was quite exciting and certainly didn't suffer from the loss of the pointless 'fuel burn' phase.

The only other alteration I'd like to see has already been mentioned - scrap qualifying with race fuel. I just don't see the need for it. If necessary, have them declare what fuel they'll start the race with beforehand, but just have the cars running on fumes for qualifying.

[TFHarv]

Boring! If they want the cars to go out and perform then make them go out and perform during the whole qualifying sessions. They were on the track for maybe 20% more time than the old 1 hour last ten mins we go nuts sessions.

At least with the previous format the cars were out on track for the whole of the last session even if it was just for fuelling strategy. I don't get why they made this format the way it is???

I still don't mind the 3 sessions idea but I wish they would make it consistent and so that cars actually being out on the circuit gave an advantage.

I still think having points for qualifying as well as race day would make it far more interesting and make the teams work on racing for the full weekend rather than just saving the cars and deciding on stratagey for the race.

[Ralf's Girl]

Originally Posted by TFHarv

At least with the previous format the cars were out on track for the whole of the last session even if it was just for fuelling strategy. I don't get why they made this format the way it is???

I suspect the environment has something to do with it...F1 cars aren't exactly known for being eco-friendly, but having them just drive round burning fuel is pretty ridiculous. And why do spectators want to just watch them drive round not doing flying laps? The point of qualifying should always be to go quicker than the other drivers, not to burn off more fuel than them.

I liked the straightforward one-hour, 12-laps format up to a point, but unless it was a wet qualifying the first half hour did tend to be pretty dire. I'd welcome that back, but perhaps with a shorter session so that we're not all just looking at an empty track for half the time.

[JeremySmith]

I think that if the one-hour 12 lap format was re introduced again and the teams were made to go onto the track at the start and during the session then that would be a good compromise..

No one would be allowed to sit waiting while other drivers laid down rubber for them, they would have to spread their 12 laps over the entire one hour period..

[Pingguest]

Well, let's not forget the race is and should the most important part of the event. With the ongoing changes to the qualifying format, qualifying seems to be the most important part of the race weekend instead.

[Dutton]

Or just don't have a lap limit.

Well, they way qualifying functions can have a pretty big impact on what the grid is like, which can mentionably impact what the race is like. Races and qualifying are inherently connected: I don't see how we can view them as totally seperate entities, thus should give due care and consideration to qualifying.

I don't see the point in complicated qualifying, though, but that is just a personal thing.