FOTA to discuss new qualifying format

[motormania]

From Autosport...
The Formula One Teams' Association, FOTA, will discuss a new qualifying format for the sport when the body meets next month. FOTA is looking to spice up qualifying, currently divided in three sessions, two of them including a knockout system.

The new idea to be looked at consists of all cars jumping onto the track at the same time and with the same amount of fuel, with the slowest driver being eliminated after each lap. After 14 laps, the six fastest drivers would then fight for pole position, fitting new tyres but still using the same amount of fuel.

The proposal might even include a championship point for pole position and prize money.

The current format, where the ten quickest drivers fight for the top spot in the final session with an amount of fuel decided by the teams, often sees pole position going to a car that's lighter than the rest. FOTA will meet on December 4 and if the proposed format is agreed upon by all teams, it is expected to be submitted to the FIA for approval.

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I've got a better idea. Keep the current format which I think most enjoy these days, but remove this stupid refueling from the actual race so we do not have the situation in the third qualifying session where we don't know if the pole man is there due to performance, driver skill or low fuel!

I want to see qualifying where they are running on fumes and being the fastest out their based on skill and machinery, not weight.

I want to see a race that has 20 cars at the same weight from the off.

We've got slicks back, now we need to put pressure on to ban refueling.

[FourWheelDrift]

Best qualifying format currently is MotoGP (although next year the qualy tyre is dropped) and how it used to be in F1, go out anytime in the hour and do as many laps as you want, you have your race tyres and 4 sets of qualifying tyres. Fastest person is on pole.

Now what's wrong with that? With all the money they are supposedly saving they can now afford a couple of extra sets of tyres.

[dougc]

Thats what they used to do and bugger all happened for the first 40 minutes.

[FourWheelDrift]

dougc said:

Thats what they used to do and bugger all happened for the first 40 minutes.

No that was when they only gave them 12 laps to use up.

Prior to that they used to have proper qualifying sessions although over 2 days, just do the same thing but over 1 day only. Unlimited laps, race tyres and 4 sets of qualy tyres. They can hone their race setup by lapping on the race tyres (that maybe are only given to them on the Saturday) and then use the qualy tyres to set their fastest laps. Look at MotoGP they go out from the very beginning of the session till the very end.

[zac510]

Why must they insist on meddling with it all the time?

[skinny]

to increase the tv coverage and hence get bernie more money

[ukvoyager.info]

FOTA said:

Good stuff

I quite like the idea... I tend to FF the first and second shoot-out as it is slightly dull.

[zac510]

The 2nd and 3rd qualifying sessions have been unusually boring because of a complete lack of red flags and drivers canoeing their cars. That's what it takes to get the order artificially mixed up.

[dpbird90]

I think this new lap by lap knockout system is brilliant, but sod doing the top 6 shootout for pole, just keep going until there is just 1 car left on the track.

[skinny]

they struggle at the moment with traffic to get one flying lap - how will they manage trying to do 14!?

i reckon leave it alone, tho scrap the fuel rule for the top 10 and let them run light, think it would make both qualy and the race more interesting...

[mattikake]

Whilte I don't think there is much need to change the current format, I quite like this idea. However, I see team tactics and/or accidental blocking coming into play here. Is the order they go out arbitrary or based on something else? i.e. What happens if you catch but can't pass a slower car at Monaco? Stand on the brakes for a bit and make a gap? And what about the guy behind you?

It will be entertaining though.

[flemke]

This is just another gimmick to build the Saturday television audience. Its main impact lies in affecting Sunday races where overtaking is almost impossible and starting position is critical.

Others will differ, but I don't care that much about the "show" on Saturday. I'd like to see who can drive the fastest lap, with no artificial constraints such as strategic fuel loads or limits on tyre usage. Beyond that, they ought to work on improving Sunday's main event, and stop playing their manipulative little games.

[skinny]

thinking about it, any race where the fastest car starts from teh front, will be boring.

would it work to add ballast to a standardised central point of the cars depending on their qualifying position (tho a small amount so that it doesn't totally screw you for the race, and the pole sitter can still win)

[flemke]

skinny said:

thinking about it, any race where the fastest car starts from teh front, will be boring.

Except that almost all forms of racing have grids decided by qualifying times. As we saw this year with Ferrari v McLaren, sometimes relative Q pace and race pace will be reversed

[DrTre]

FourWheelDrift said:

Prior to that they used to have proper qualifying sessions although over 2 days, just do the same thing but over 1 day only. Unlimited laps, race tyres and 4 sets of qualy tyres. They can hone their race setup by lapping on the race tyres (that maybe are only given to them on the Saturday) and then use the qualy tyres to set their fastest laps. Look at MotoGP they go out from the very beginning of the session till the very end.

Amen to that.

Todays race weekend from the beginning of qualifying onwards is an artificial spectacle with the entire thing shaking out of the tree only after the last round of pitstops ( I realise that could be applied to any race however I am talking of the rigging of the event to try and create some sort of show that is entirely non existent in terms of meaning anything until the last pitstop).

Just ditch refuelling and the whole tedious "what fuel strategy are they on" that in no way shape or form introduces any element of drama or suspense, or indeed influences the result (or very very very rarely) to the whole shebang.

Edited by DrTre on Friday 21st November 18:37

[dpbird90]

Or, what about reverse grids? Sod the qualifying, if you win one race, you start p20 for the next one, if you finish p20, you're pole at the next round. simple.

[DrTre]

I'm genuinely curious as to where this idea of a non meritocratic qualifying system has come from? It only seems to exist in motorsport (I am probably wrong about that)...OK, maybe horse racing with the handicap system...

In athletics or swimming you're not penalised for qualifying fastest, on the contrary you're given the centre lanes.

Things should be more favourable, after qualification, for the fastest/strongest...it's a competition. The only viable alternative i can genuinely see is randomised grids...but don't penalise the better team/person simply because they're better. It's a wholly false concept...

[mdm123]

i think they should go with the moto gp way. biggest problem is see with the curent format is that the fast driver isn't always on pole, it should be about who is the fastest, not who's wants to take the smallest fuel load in to the race

[redvictor]

forget everything else.Pull them all out of a hat.It would sure make for some interesting grid positions.Or start the slow ones at the front a la F1 stock cars...

[Teppic]

I actually preferred the one-by-one format in 2003. One lap, with low fuel, and if you screwed it up, TOUGH! And best of all, the drivers couldn't complain about being held up on their fast lap.