F1 Qualifying

Dampsquid

Who thinks it would be a good idea to have only one lap to qualify for a race.

Who ever finished last in the previous qualifying session or race, would go out first, do 1 fast lap, then the next driver would go out once he came in.

It would give all the teams more exposure, as the camera's would be on them for the whole of the lap.

It would also mix up the front of the grid a bit, as with only one chance, there will be more mistakes.

amacachi

It's been done and it was crap.

losthorizon

LIGHTNING wrote: »

That was tried years ago and it was completely failure. I think the current system is the best format I have ever seen. The old format of a long one session qualifing was pants as nobody did anything for the first part (except for the backrunners as they used it as a test session) and then there was a mad rush at the end.

I agree, the current system is by far the best they have ever used.

Sterling Archer

Simple one of the best seasons of F1 in a long time

smellslikeshoes

I like the way qualifying is currently but I just wish they would do something about the use of tires in it. It's been happening a lot lately that one of the two compounds is a second or more slower. This creates a situation in the first session where often all but Ferrari,RBR and McLaren have to use up a set of the faster tires to make sure they don't end up in the 18th position dropzone. This isn't that big a problem for the teams that drop out in the second session but the teams that make up the tail end of the top 10 are at a significant disadvantage during the race compared to the leaders, especially when you consider the high tire degradation rates and the very limited number of tires they can use over the weekend.

You might say tough sh*t for them but having a full strength 6-10 on the grid would keep the leaders honest and add to the race.

TheChrisD

I feel the issue may lie in the fact they seem to have so many sets of tyres available for use.

A few things that could help spice up qualifying, mostly borrowed from the IndyCars:
- Reduce the number of option tyres available. If I read it correctly, teams for 4 sets of each for quali and the race. Reducing the number of options available to 3 sets would help to make them used only when necessary.
- Make it so that each car can only use one set of tyres for each qualifying session, so if you go out on primes, you have to stick with primes; if you go out on options, you have to stick with options.
- Make it so that one brand-new set of option tyres have to be used during the race (as part of the rule mandating both tyre types). This removes one set of options from quali, and definitely gives every car an ace to use during the race when they feel like it.

Myrddin

DRS has no place in qualifying, especially given that some teams have more efficient systems than others. It's an overtaking aid, let them use it on Sundays & for FP sessions, nothing else.

rua1972

@chris d
When teams choose not to run in q3 to save a set for the race, i don't think they have to many tyres.

Qauli would be a lot beter if the top 10 gets a extra set of soft tyres to set their best time on. That way you will have all the teams out in qauli. Now it's getting a bit boring.

The one lap shootout was nice ,but not everyone would get the same curcumstances. wet v dry. the way qauli is now is the best way i've seen. If only they changed the tyre rule.

Im Only 71Kg

LIGHTNING wrote: »

That was tried years ago and it was completely failure. I think the current system is the best format I have ever seen. The old format of a long one session qualifing was pants as nobody did anything for the first part (except for the backrunners as they used it as a test session) and then there was a mad rush at the end.

no way i have to disagree....qualifying was far more exciting back in the early 90's..true nothing happened for the early part of the session but if weather was iffy it threw up some mad starting grids..it was sometimes more exciting than the race. Qualifying is barely worth watching now.

Dont be at yourself

Im Only 71Kg wrote: »

no way i have to disagree....qualifying was far more exciting back in the early 90's..true nothing happened for the early part of the session but if weather was iffy it threw up some mad starting grids..it was sometimes more exciting than the race. Qualifying is barely worth watching now.

Agree with that. There's not a lot to keep the viewer entertained because the people eliminated in each section is so predictable. All of the excitement is usually left to a small window in Q3, and even that isn't as great as the old days.

I much prefer the old format where teams had 12 laps over the hour. The excitement was in watching the top time fall over the hour as the drivers traded times, and then the last gap dash in the closing minutes to see who'd come out on top. Plenty to keep everyone entertained.

smellslikeshoes

EnterNow wrote: »

DRS has no place in qualifying, especially given that some teams have more efficient systems than others. It's an overtaking aid, let them use it on Sundays & for FP sessions, nothing else.

I'm a little on the fence over this. From what I understand of it, having a very strong DRS system can have a negative impact on your regular pace. This would mean teams who are reputed to have focussed heavily on having a strong DRS system like Mercedes would be at a big disadvantage in Qualifying if they weren't allowed to use it.

amacachi

smellslikeshoes wrote: »

I'm a little on the fence over this. From what I understand of it, having a very strong DRS system can have a negative impact on your regular pace. This would mean teams who are reputed to have focussed heavily on having a strong DRS system like Mercedes would be at a big disadvantage in Qualifying if they weren't allowed to use it.

It depends on the overall package, there isn't a direct risk/reward equation for all teams.

Myrddin

smellslikeshoes wrote: »

I'm a little on the fence over this. From what I understand of it, having a very strong DRS system can have a negative impact on your regular pace. This would mean teams who are reputed to have focussed heavily on having a strong DRS system like Mercedes would be at a big disadvantage in Qualifying if they weren't allowed to use it.

I still don't see why an overtaking aid thats only allowed to be used in certain zones, & only then when your within 1 second of another car...is allowed to be used in qualifying where there is no racing going on. Allowing use of it while not actually overtaking is giving an unrealistic lap time based on what the car can do.

Cookie_Monster

NekkidBibleMan wrote: »

Agree with that. There's not a lot to keep the viewer entertained because the people eliminated in each section is so predictable. All of the excitement is usually left to a small window in Q3, and even that isn't as great as the old days.

I much prefer the old format where teams had 12 laps over the hour. The excitement was in watching the top time fall over the hour as the drivers traded times, and then the last gap dash in the closing minutes to see who'd come out on top. Plenty to keep everyone entertained.

I'd favour going back to this with the single proviso that maybe 40% of the laps had to be done in the first half of the hour just for the sake of the audience. maybe make it min 6 laps in the first half hour and 9 whenever, giving a total of 15.

TheChrisD

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

I'd favour going back to this with the single proviso that maybe 40% of the laps had to be done in the first half of the hour just for the sake of the audience. maybe make it min 6 laps in the first half hour and 9 whenever, giving a total of 15.

Or possibly making four separate 15-minute sessions where every team has the opportunity to do one flying lap during each session.