The new F1 qualifying format

celticfc

Both Bernie Ecclestone & Schumi have said they hate the new qualifying format saying it is too boring - see here.

I dont think qualifying is half as exiting to watch as it used to be a couple of years ago when all the cars were out at once at the end of the session, you never knew what was going to happen.


Which do you prefer ? ,

1. The old format where they had 12 laps available & an hour to complete them with any amount of drivers on the grid at once.

2. Last years format where there were 2 sessions on 2 days which the cars go out one at a time.

3. This years new format where there are 2 back-to-back 45 min sessions which the cars go out one at a time.

Töpher

One hour format, hands down! Tho it would be nice to see the camera on Jordan for a few minutes, if they weren't going so slow!

Tommy Vercetti

The old one-hour format was definitely the best.

bizmark

i like this years format

irishgeo

The old ones hands down.

I mean it was great they way they could time it so they would just cross the line when the clock hit zero and they would be the last to finsh their lap.

Celtic Tiger

Yup bring back the old days, much more exciting. The hectic last few minutes were always great.

robo

Last years qualifiying was mucbetter...gave everyone a chance of getting pole position!

neokenzo

I like last year's format. I think it makes the races more exciting.

Kalina

I enjoyed the qualifying format of the 1999 season and after, which is when I started watching F1. This years qualifying is an improvement on last years, the action is more condensed.

AngelofFire

i definately prefer the old 1 hour format. it was much more exciting. they should revert back to it. but i think they should keep it in the rules that the car should be kept in parc fermee on a saturday night

Töpher

I'm presuming you mean just for no changes to the car, cuz with a number of runs it would be impossible to maintain the fuel in quali/race rule...?!

Limey Boosk

I like last years format. It screwed up the grid, and it had people like Kimi slung to the back. We then got to see him charging through the field.

This years format with the first 45 minutes is a bit odd.

aidan_dunne

To be honest, I'm not a big fan of any of the formats, though, if I had to choose, I'd go for the old-style 1 hour jobbies.

What I would prefer to see would be a situation similar to what they have in ChampCar where all cars have to start the race on the same amount of fuel. My idea would be this. In qualifying, each car goes out for one warm-up lap, one timed lap and a slowing down lap, just like at the moment, but on minimum fuel. That way, we get a true sense of who is the quickest driver like in the old days, not like today where it all depends on how much race fuel they're carrying during qualifying.

Then, before the race, FIA supervisors would make sure the same amount of fuel is dished out to each car. There is a pit window between laps X and X where the drivers have to come in to make their first pit stops but they can make as many pit stops as they like after that and whenever they like. Let's say, for argument's sake then, there is a 5-lap pit window for the first stop where all drivers have to come in within these specified laps or face a pitlane drive-through penalty. A driver can pit before this pit window for repairs or if they suffer mechanical damage but refuelling is not allowed. They can only refuel once they hit the first mandatory pit stop window.

However, as I said, once the first pit stop window is finished, drivers can make as many pit stops as they like and whenever they want. And, from the first pit stop onwards, teams can change their strategy or fuel loads during the stops whatever way they like. The only specification is that at the start of the race all cars must start with the same amount of fuel and make their first pit stops within a mandatory, set number of laps. After that, anything goes in the pit stops.

What I think we would then see is a much tighter start to the race, up to the first mandatory stop, then maybe a more widely spread out middle to the race as teams used different strategies, and then a closer finish as some teams slowed down to conserve fuel and others, who had fuel to spare, ran flat out. Also, I think we'd see a pretty interesting first round of pit stops as all the cars scramble into the pits and try to get their first stops done within a limited number of laps. Would make the first stop, at least, more exciting to watch with cars pouring in and out of the pits.

Hey, it works for ChampCar and IndyCar and that often produces some great, close finishes. Okay, I know you can't compare them with F1 directly because of the whole limited number of engines/two chassis formula used in the States but it might be worth a try, eh? What does everybody else think? Crap idea or a good one?