qualifying format

[browney]

I heard the commentators talking today about the proposed knockout qualifying system. Yesterday I watched the Australian motogp qualifying. The format is 1 hour and whoever sets the fastest lap gets pole and so on, it is so simple. It was also really exciting, with the riders all trying to outdo each other in real time. Why can't this simple system be used in F1, why do they need to make up some stupid complex system for something which is really only to determine the starting order of the GP (which is supposed to be the exciting part)?

[Adam43]

That used to be the system until a few years ago. I liked it.

[Pingguest]

Originally Posted by AdamAshmore

That used to be the system until a few years ago. I liked it.

No, the Formula 1 didn't. They had a limit of 12 laps.

[Kicking-back]

Only since 1993, Pingguest

[Knowlesy]

12 laps was introduced in 1996 wasn't it?

[Pingguest]

Originally Posted by Kicking-back

Only since 1993, Pingguest

Before that the number of qualifying tyres was limited. This made the drivers doing no more than only two runs.

[Pingguest]

Originally Posted by knowlesy

12 laps was introduced in 1996 wasn't it?

The twelve laps limit per session was introduced in 1993. But there were two qualifying session. The single qualifying session with a limit of 12 laps was introduced in 1996.

[Knowlesy]

Well that's 24 laps then.

[Pingguest]

Originally Posted by knowlesy

Well that's 24 laps then.

Yes, but if it rained on Sunday, you had 12 laps.

Before 1993 the number of laps weren't limited, but the number of qualifying tyres was limited to two sets.

[Knowlesy]

No, you still had 24 laps.

If it rained halfway through a 12 lap session, did that mean you only had six laps?

[Pingguest]

Originally Posted by knowlesy

No, you still had 24 laps.

If it rained halfway through a 12 lap session, did that mean you only had six laps?

According to the regulations, you are right. But in practise, you aren't.

[Marbot]

The trouble with the one hour free-for-all thing is that it would have been much better to condense it down to just 10 minutes and even then you weren't guaranteed to see the fastest lap on TV.But anyway it looks like "I'ts a Knockout" will be back on our screens next year.

[ScotsBrutesFan]

The problem with the "knockout" system would be on a green track, say after heavy overnight rain. Or even on a drying track. All it would take is a small mistake by a driver before the first "cut off", and he's out, This when his car is clearly capable of faster times as either more rubber is laid down or a dryer line appears.

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by ScotsBrutesFan

The problem with the "knockout" system would be on a green track, say after heavy overnight rain. Or even on a drying track. All it would take is a small mistake by a driver before the first "cut off", and he's out, This when his car is clearly capable of faster times as either more rubber is laid down or a dryer line appears.

Yes,but it's the same (conditions) for everybody.

[Dutton]

I'm gradually warming to the system. I am still not desperately enthused by it, but it is growing on me somewhat overtime.

[Menelaos]

Anything was better than this one. Now a few drops of rain can decide a champion if things are on margin. I hate luck being an important factor here, and the FIA are doing their best to make luck as important as possible.

[Pingguest]

Originally Posted by martyn bott

The trouble with the one hour free-for-all thing is that it would have been much better to condense it down to just 10 minutes and even then you weren't guaranteed to see the fastest lap on TV.

That problem could have been minimized by having a good TV-direction. If this would have been done by the FOM, we wouldn't have missed the pole lap every time.

[Marbot]

Qually should be decided on Monday,let's hope they've got it right this time.http://www.f1racing.net/en/news.php?newsID=101894

[maltafan]

Yes, the earlier they decide, the better. cause this thing is also reflecting the car design as to know how big the fuel tank has to be.

[Pingguest]

Originally Posted by martyn bott

Qually should be decided on Monday,let's hope they've got it right this time.http://www.f1racing.net/en/news.php?newsID=101894

The fact that the last ten drivers have to qualify with race fuel, makes the system too complex and doesn't add something. Why can't they just abolish this rule? It isn't that difficult.

[Kicking-back]

Because the teams want that rule

[Pingguest]

Originally Posted by Kicking-back

Because the teams want that rule

On the short term, yes. They are almost ready with their new cars. But I doubt whether teams want to keep that rule on the long term. And in fact, that rule will be abolished for the ten drivers who fail to get in the lastest session.

Ah, the FIA should have never introduced that stupid rule.

[Marbot]

I think what they are trying to do is to add a bit of 'randomness' to it.

Since they can do as many laps as they like in that 20 minute period,they'll be eating up the fuel all the time.This makes it a balance between how much you need pole position (Monaco for example) and how much fuel you need on board to do a worthwhile first stint.

Meanwhile the cars from 11th backwards,have a chance to go really outrageous on strategy,full tanks for example,which in the event of a safety car or rain could pay dividends.

Complicated,but i can see the logic.

[Ginetta]

I like What I have seen of the old days when the drivers had as many laps as they could do on the Friday and the same on the Saturday and the fastest time over the two days got pols, not agregated though

[safc_fan89]

The easiest solution would be to go back to the 1996-2002 format. Yes, there was often little action in the first 20 minutes, but the last 40 mins made up for it. I see no reason to make it over-complicated.