New qualifying format...

[dans79]

I think the problem is that certain groups complain that F1 is boring when their favoured team/driver isn't winning. Some teams will claim the same when their main opponent is doing better than they are. F1 is fine if they would just let the fans get on and enjoy it.

Completely agree, it's just another tactic to keep fair weather fans (the ones we can do without) engaged.

[ME4ME]

Honestly is it really that hard to understand?

From Autosport:

The three qualifying periods will remain, with Q1 to run for 16 minutes, with the slowest car eliminated after seven minutes, and then every 90 seconds thereafter until 15 remain to head into Q2.

The second period is to run for 15 minutes, and will follow the same process as Q1, with the first driver to be eliminated after six minutes until eight remain.

For the 14-minute Q3, the first driver will be knocked out after five minutes, with the session continuing until only the man on pole is left standing.

Other than that normal F1 rules apply as well as the new tyre rules.

[FrukostScones]

Honestly is it really that hard to understand?

From Autosport:

The three qualifying periods will remain, with Q1 to run for 16 minutes, with the slowest car eliminated after seven minutes, and then every 90 seconds thereafter until 15 remain to head into Q2.

The second period is to run for 15 minutes, and will follow the same process as Q1, with the first driver to be eliminated after six minutes until eight remain.

For the 14-minute Q3, the first driver will be knocked out after five minutes, with the session continuing until only the man on pole is left standing.

Other than that normal F1 rules apply as well as the new tyre rules.

then answer the questions if it is soo easy to understand.

I'm waiting!

[ME4ME]

then answer the questions if it is soo easy to understand.

No new Quali Regs on FIA website yet...

So many "what ifs" in this sh*t new system...

Some big questions:
1. Do the times done before the elemination round stand or are the deleted before the 90sec elimination stage?
2. Can you change tyres? How many times? Do you have to use certain tyres or are you free to use which tyres (3 tyres compound available at each GP??? arrgh, how does it work with the new tyres rules, arrgh)
3. What is done with the used tyres, on which tyres will they have to start the race? Different who makes it to Q1, Q2, Q3?
3. Are you allowed refuel (only in the pit garage as per the rules, of course) during quali?
4. What will they do to minimise pit lane "green light chaos"? (first come first serve, two lane? one lane?, what about snaking , in pit lane overtaking?(penalties?)....
5. What about overtaking cars on track or impeding faster cars? Are there rules necessary?
5. What if there is yellow in 90sec elimination round, what if double yellow, what if there is red?
6. What else...?

1. Yes they stand for each round of qualifying.
2. Of course you can. As many times as you have time for. Q3 tyres stipulated by Pirelli.
3. Used tyres will be used the same as always: disregarded or used again if there is enough performance left in them. Q3 participants start on the tyres used for their quickest time, and the others can pick just as usual.
3 ( .2? ) Yes. Like usual.
4. Same as usual.
5. Same as usual. Impeding is penalized.
6. Accept change and things will become clear after the first race, and then you have something to judge.

Regardless of me being correct here or not, just wait and see. At least an effort is made to create better racing.

[Paul]

I hope it would at least make proper coverage easier. Now it's all about showing the finish line for the last minute with everyone setting what is likely their best times and a big standings reshuffle. With this format it will be possible to concentrate on the one car in the drop zone and actually show cars navigating parts of track other than the last straight.

[FrukostScones]

then answer the questions if it is soo easy to understand.

No new Quali Regs on FIA website yet...

So many "what ifs" in this sh*t new system...

Some big questions:
1. Do the times done before the elemination round stand or are the deleted before the 90sec elimination stage?
2. Can you change tyres? How many times? Do you have to use certain tyres or are you free to use which tyres (3 tyres compound available at each GP??? arrgh, how does it work with the new tyres rules, arrgh)
3. What is done with the used tyres, on which tyres will they have to start the race? Different who makes it to Q1, Q2, Q3?
3. Are you allowed refuel (only in the pit garage as per the rules, of course) during quali?
4. What will they do to minimise pit lane "green light chaos"? (first come first serve, two lane? one lane?, what about snaking , in pit lane overtaking?(penalties?)....
5. What about overtaking cars on track or impeding faster cars? Are there rules necessary?
5. What if there is yellow in 90sec elimination round, what if double yellow, what if there is red?
6. What else...?

1. Yes they stand for each round of qualifying.
2. Of course you can. As many times as you have time for. Q3 tyres stipulated by Pirelli.
3. Used tyres will be used the same as always: disregarded or used again if there is enough performance left in them. Q3 participants start on the tyres used for their quickest time, and the others can pick just as usual.
3 ( .2? ) Yes. Like usual.
4. Same as usual.
5. Same as usual. Impeding is penalized.
6. Accept change and things will become clear after the first race, and then you have something to judge.

Regardless of me being correct here or not, just wait and see. At least an effort is made to create better racing.

at least thx for the effort!

[nevill3]

So only the top 8 cars in Q3 will have to start on their Q2 fastest lap time tyres, so cars in 9th & 10th will have a choice of tyres to start the race, this could prove interesting.

Also the final elimination in each section is at the chequered flag so the last minute dash of the remaining cars to cross the line as close to the chequered flag to begin a final flying lap will still happen if they wish to be on track when it is at it's optimum. The final 90 second Q3 showdown will be much poorer though with only two cars able to do this.

I can see some drivers getting caught out if they need to make a second flying lap and not completing it before one of the 90 second intervals ends. I guess a quick lap at the beginning of each section or timed to cross the line as close to the first elimination point and then return to the garage if you think you have done enough is still going to be the norm. However the usual lower teams will no longer be able to wait until the track has evolved and hope they get a clean lap with no blocking , impeding or yellow flags.

[adrianjordan]

Personally I think that if they are going to do this then they should allow all the teams to start the race on whatever tyres they want to use.

Although if not and if they were to mandate that you have to be on track at all times (except for a "normal" pitstop to change tyres) until you're knocked out then it would mean that the faster cars had more worn tyres which could a) make for a more interesting race and b) mean that some teams may try to be knocked out on purpose so they get slightly newer tyres to start the race.

[strad]

Personally I think that if they are going to do this then they should allow all the teams to start the race on whatever tyres they want to use.

My opinion has always been that they should be able to start/run any tire available to them, oh, and at whatever pressure their engineers think.
IF they/he are wrong and they blow tires or have other tire pressure related problems, that same engineer/engineers, then has to take the responsibility.

[notsofast]

How about making it even more interesting. A single 1-hour qualifying session. The car with the slowest time for its lap 1 is eliminated and returns to the garage. All other lap 1 times are discarded. From the remaining cars, the one with the slowest time for its lap 2 is eliminated. And so on. In order to earn pole, you'll have to do 21 laps (and have the fastest time for the 21st lap), assuming there are 22 cars on the grid. You can pit anytime you want, but the clock stops after 1 hour, potentially preventing a driver from completing all 21 timed laps. If multiple cars run out of time, the tie breaker is number of completed laps, followed by whoever completed their last lap the earliest. In other words, no banker laps.

[SteveRacer]

Not sure how I feel about the new system. Qualifying was my favorite part of a race weekend. It really seemed like a part of the show that didn't need fixing.

[ParkerArt]

Not sure how I feel about the new system. Qualifying was my favorite part of a race weekend. It really seemed like a part of the show that didn't need fixing.

I thought this change was just to make the teams keep their cars out on track for more of the sessions. All the top teams are still really only going to be doing 3-5 laps per session to save tires.

[Sevach]

Not sure how I feel about the new system. Qualifying was my favorite part of a race weekend. It really seemed like a part of the show that didn't need fixing.

I thought this change was just to make the teams keep their cars out on track for more of the sessions. All the top teams are still really only going to be doing 3-5 laps per session to save tires.

Yes, for Mercedes and Ferrari it's unlikely to change much, everybody else will burn their tires giving them a even worst chance to compete.

[iotar__]

Not sure how I feel about the new system. Qualifying was my favorite part of a race weekend. It really seemed like a part of the show that didn't need fixing.

What about only one flying lap in Q3? More pressure, more driver's impact, less traffic problems, they sent them in fixed gaps, better TV coverage (split screen). Most of the time it's chaos these days, you don't see the best laps or when they abandon them, they show the wrong one or switch cameras at the last moment. Example: it's Rosberg vs Ham and they show Bottas for 50 seconds because he's earlier. It's more follow live timing plus crossing the finish than watching

About the new one:
- Slight randomness will affect all the teams, perhaps on average Merc and Ferrari less than the others (margins). Those rules are certainly not against one top and dominant team e.i. Merc as suggested earlier. Although it will be easier for a team to screw one driver. Oops not us new rules
- Odd pole position/second place doesn't add to the excitement, see Hulkenberg and Bottas in recent seasons, all the "excitement" lasted 5 laps or 5 corners AFAIR.

[nevill3]

So just to clarify things, I think the teams do not have to remain on track throughout the sessions, so setting just one really quick timed lap just like they did last year will allow them to return to the pits.

At first I thought they had to remain on track but I think this is incorrect. I guess we will have to wait for the full rules to be sure.