New quali format

[f1.redbaron]

I have a feeling that the qualifying format will be changed in the upcoming races.

While I understand the essence of this new format, I still cannot understand how is it that the drivers with their laps in the 34's (positions 1-10) will be ahead of those who were posting 32's (11-16). That does not make any sense.

Edit: Upon seeing the final times, I wanted to clarify what I wrote in the last paragraph...the commentators were saying how, because of the difference in rules regarding fuel loads for the top 10 and the remainder of the cars, the cars running in top 10, not wanting to give out any hints of how much fuel do they actually have, may have a quiet agreement not to run as fast, but some 2-3 seconds slower than the times posted by the guys in 11-16 positions.

Anyways, I believe that my point still stands. It is becoming far too complicated...


And, congratulations to Michael (and Massa - where did he come from?)!!! 65 poles! One more and he's got the final record!

[manchild]

I also think that qualifying will be changed. Looks stupid and already complaints from TV broadcasters.

Bring back 1 hour free for all with best time taken in consideration!

[joseff]

Come on guys, at least give it 3 or 4 races... IMHO it's a huge improvement over any of the 2-hour qualy's we've seen. And if the goal is to ensure constant action throughout the hour, it's way better than A1's solution.

I like it. Anybody else?

[Sawtooth-spike]

i liked the First 30 mins of it, i thought it was really fun to watch.
The Parade that followed for 15 mins as car drove around to lose fuel Was crap. then the last 5 mins was great again.

[Venom]

It's sure nice to watch last second battles to get a flying lap but it's not realistic thou.

[f1.redbaron]

Come on guys, at least give it 3 or 4 races... IMHO it's a huge improvement over any of the 2-hour qualy's we've seen. And if the goal is to ensure constant action throughout the hour, it's way better than A1's solution.

I like it. Anybody else?

Here is the reason why I don't like it - when you look at the times of, say 11th placed Villeneuve, and 6th placed Barrichello, you start asking a lot of questions. Why is Villeneuve 11th with a better time than Barrichello? The answer you get is something along the lines of - "well because he got knocked out in the second part, and due to the fact that he is able to refuel, he was able to exploit that loophole and go out on fumes and post a good lap time.

But the point is, well...what is the point? Isn't the whole point of qualifying to reward the driver who posted the best time (regardless of whether he was on fumes or not)? And, why are we being put in a situation where we are, yet again, completely lost in a sea of strageties floating around the F1 pit lanes?

When I was in school, I was introduced to an interesting acronym -KISS. It stood for "Keep It Simple, Stupid"! Perhaps I should send some of my fromer professors to meet Max.

[Steven]

I absolutely think it's a succes formula, but only if the public can quickly understand the new system. If it is going to take them 4 or more races before most get a grip on the new format, I think several protests will arise and maybe yet another change will be introduced.

Btw, the old 1 hour system was indeed, and still is the best option there ever was. It was simple and exciting most of the time. Remember however it was changed as sometimes absolutely nothing happened in the first half hour, as they were all waiting for someone else to clean the track.

Maybe we should have a minirace like at the end of the current system. Teams are allowed to change tyres but not refuel during the session. We could also set a minimum number of laps for each car that must be completed in order to prevent them driving 1lap (which would be unwise anyway since the track normally gets better through the session).

[Principessa]

Well, it was more exciting to watch than the old system with a quick lap. Of course it wa less chaos, but, now it's more exciting.
I just think that sometimes they weren't showing the times enough.

[manchild]

I don't like it because it is artificaly creating overtaking and competition where there is none. Overtaking should be result of development of race, drivers skills, cars performace - not artificialy caused buy putting faster cars at the back of the grid. Just wait to see what kind of mess will occur on race once first 10 go to refueling.

Drawing starting positions from hat would have same effect and cost nothing.

[Tp]

Overall it was much more exciting to watch than the old system, with more happening at a given time........But what doesn't make sense is the final 15 minutes where they drive around wasting fuel??? Whats that all about? I really hope they change that.

[JimmyK]

I thought it was fantastic, and it would be a shame if it went.
Though didn't the FIA create a rule that was meant to stop them driving around simply to use up fuel?

[manchild]

I don't say that it wasn't exciting but that is excitement without the purpose because real stopwatch competition suffers from qualifying procedure.

[Steven]

Well, it was more exciting to watch than the old system with a quick lap. Of course it wa less chaos, but, now it's more exciting.
I just think that sometimes they weren't showing the times enough.

Well the commentators said their monitors didn't show any times during the first 20 minutes, It was probably just a technical failure I hope

[zac510]

I don't understand what *isn't* artificial about it. If you're not fast enough, you get dropped. That's it.

If Garry Kasparov lost a chess game, would that be artificial?

Anyway I liked it. The final top 10 was a bit odd format but at the end of the day the quickest cars are up the top and the slowest are down the bottom.

[joseff]

The confusion with the different starting strategies was caused by drivers having to start on their q fuel load. Ditto with 11th being faster than 6th. I say we keep the current system, but let ALL drivers refuel before the race.

This way we get the chaotic fun AND see drivers running on fumes.

For the record, YES I also think that the old system was the best. Same goes for allowing refueling/aero tweaks between qualifying and race.