Qualifying Improvements & Tyre Improvements

[Maelstrom]

The way I see it, A driver who doesn't go out to set a lap in Q3 thinks he doesn't have a shot at pole. Like Vettel in China. So wats the point forcing him to set a quick lap and spoiling his race strategy?

Button finished fifth because of the quali strategy allowing him to start on the primes. The problem is that once upon a time qualifying on pole or on the first two rows meant a very high chance of winning or a podium finish. That's not true at every race nowadays. So instead of changing quali rules what needs to be done is introduce measures that qualifying high becomes profitable again. Frankly thats not going to happen with the current tyres.

[NathanOlder]

But his race strategy didnt work. In Q2 His time was 3rd fastest for that session, The fastest 2 were Hamilton and Alonso, so Over a single lap the Red Bull has the speed. And could have gone for the same as the guys at the front. Red Bull screwed up and got the wrong strategy, which was good, as the guys doing hot laps on softer tyres in Q3 were rewarded for the effort.

Besides, Vettel in China went out to do a lap and just screwed up. So his race strategy was compromised. His Q2 time was quick enough for 6th. So surely the thing to do is everyone should run atleast 1 quick timed run in Q3. After all, its what the Fans want to see, and without the fans F1 in NOTHING.

I would say using the 107% rule as i stated on the previous page, and maybe ditch the whole, start the race on the tyres your qualified on, so they could give the teams an extra set of the softer tyres in Q3 (as a reward for getting into Q3) so the drivers all went out and chased the fastest time possible.

[MOWOG]

what needs to be done is introduce measures that qualifying high becomes profitable again.

Wouldn't that be nice!

[Maelstrom]

what needs to be done is introduce measures that qualifying high becomes profitable again.

Wouldn't that be nice!

Well... until a few years ago people fought for pole like cats and dogs... Now its not worth so much... so why will people waste resources on it?

[MOWOG]

I think the comment was meant to approve the days when every team was scrambling like cats and dogs for pole position. The fans at the track and the fans at home seemed to really like that. Now, where some teams elect NOT to set a time in Q3 to preserve tires for race day, the fans are quite a bit less enthused.

Fans are a fickle lot, of course. But I think one can say that having pole position coming down to the last car on track as time expires is very exciting. Watching cars sit in the pits with their tire warmers on is not. Most of us would opt for excitement over ennui every time.

I suppose there are those who get their racing rocks off watching a certain driver or team claim pole in a snooze-a-palloza, but those folks are outliers on the fan enthusiasm spectrum. In case you haven't noticed, sports today are not that far removed from the gladiatorial contests featured at the Forum in ancient Rome.

[Maelstrom]

To be honest 'this' fan would have preferred Hamilton winning in China rather than him being on pole.

Qualifying is exciting.. but Q3 is ten minutes long. The race is three hours. It's better to have cars go faster lap after lap than just one lap.

[zeph]

So, the simple way to get a decent Q3, just introduce the 107% rule in that session, and not just Q1.

Obviously there will be exceptions for people that crash out in Q3 or break down. But if the car doesnt complete a lap inside the 107% rule, that car will be made to start from the rear of the grid. If it is a spin or a genuine breakdown (proven to the strewards) the car will then be able to start 10th.

I don't think that is fair, nor that it will work.

Possible scenario: so a midfield team manages to enter Q3, beating all their direct competitors. They fail to make the 107% and are demoted to the back of the grid. Now there is no incentive for them to make Q3 at all, so why even bother with Q2? And so on...

[Pierce89]

what needs to be done is introduce measures that qualifying high becomes profitable again.

Wouldn't that be nice!

The problem is: if quali is super important, that's because overtaking is near impossible. For example: monaco pole still means you're just a half decent start away from a win.

[SiLo]

I think everyone should start on the tyres they do their fastest time with, and if they don't set a time within the 107% rule they use the tires from their previous fastest lap. So say Vettel in china would have started on his tires from his Q2 lap and would have forced him to give it a go in Q3.

[Maelstrom]

Maybe they should start awarding points for Qualifying. Top ten qualifiers get points. That will fix the problem nicely. Not as many points as the races, obviously... but a few. That would have the midfielders trying desperately to get into Q3, which would subsequently light a fire under the top teams.

[ESPImperium]

Im still thinking that putting 70 kilos of fuel in each car before Quali and then telling the drivers that if you want a fast time in Q3, you better get out there and burn some fuel. It should give each guy 22 to 25 laps in Quali. I also think it will mean that Pirelli may have to take a half step back on their compounds as well.

However, id do away with the Supersoft and have 3 compounds at each race:

4 sets of hard - 1 taken away after Fri and 1 taken away after Sat P3 (Giving 22-25 laps effective use)
5 sets of medium - 1 taken away after Fri and 1 taken away after Sat P3 (Giving 15-18 laps effective use)
5 sets of soft - 1 taken away after Fri and 1 taken away after Sat P3 (Giving 10-12 laps effective use)

That leaves 8 sets of rubber for Quali and the race with another set of medium and soft taken away after quali. Then everyone can start on what ever the eff they want to, however the Q3 shootout guys must use all 3 compounds in the race. Either way, you can push and use a 4 stopper for those guys or a two stopper for the guys in the. This means that quali will be tighter, but it will mean more people on the track as well.

Also P1 drivers can get an extra set of soft and mediums, however P1 drivers are drivers who havnt driven in more than 5 GP in the past 2 years or taken part in more than 10 P1 sessions in the past two years as well. Theese tyres are given to drivers for 5 FP1 sessions. Also drivers who have done more than 3 days testing in the past two years would also be excluded.

So CHI, GUI, VDG would get the extra sets and not BIA and BOT as BOT has done 15 FP1 sessions and 6 days testing and BIA as he has done 9 FP1 sessions and 9 Test Days. Both would be deemed ready for F1.