Poll: Is the 2016 F1 Qualifying format better than the 2015 format?

Is the 2016 F1 Qualifying format better than the 2015 format?

  • Yes

    Votes: 8 3.8%
  • No

    Votes: 204 96.2%

  • Total voters
    212
Man of Honour
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
40,209
Well, that was complete and utter love spuds.
Genuinely would prefer the one lap qualifying back over that, and that was dreadful.

Want to make qualifying more random? Have the driver draws lots for what tyres they have to run in Qualifying. Could be hards, could be ultra softs.

Or... No actual qualifying session, just the three practice sessions, but make FP3 90 minutes long. Each drivers fastest laps across the session get taken to make the grid.

Knockout really, REALLY didn't work.
 
Man of Honour
Joined
11 Mar 2004
Posts
76,634
F1 qualifying will revert to the 2015 format from the next race in Bahrain after team bosses agreed to immediately drop the elimination-style system.

The sport's new-look qualifying system for 2016 endured a disastrous debut at the Australian GP on Saturday with cars repeatedly not on track at the end of the three sessions - including the final minutes of Q3 when pole position should have been fought between the two quickest cars.

Team principals, including Christian Horner, Toto Wolff and Maurizio Arrivabene, and sporting directors met with FIA race director Charlie Whiting to discuss an urgent response ahead on Sunday morning in Melbourne.
Thank ****
 
Soldato
Joined
9 Nov 2005
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8,695
Location
Southampton
Disappointed they have completely ditched the new format completely.:(

Still trying to get up to date since last night, hoping the reversion might just be for Bahrain, giving the numpties more time to sort out the new format's failings.
 
Soldato
Joined
15 Oct 2003
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14,809
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Chengdu
Can only hope it's taken out the back and shot, never to be seen again.
The existing format worked, and was capable of being exciting.

If you want the racing to be more interesting, then look at other aspects of the sport... Not the thing that isn't broken.
 
Soldato
Joined
13 Feb 2012
Posts
5,788
The new format doesnt work, at all. It never will work.

Before anything else I am fully aware they will go back to the old format, and think that's the best thing to do with the current tyres and fuelling regulations.

I was not a fan of this format but it wasn't the format that was the issue, it all comes down to the tyres and fuelling and potentially some slight tweaks to the cut off timing.

Give the teams a tyre that lasts performance wise for 15+ laps and this format would be great, cars would go out with enough fuel that they think they could risk and run lap after lap without pitting with times dropping all over the grid.

I know there is arguments over fuel, but then it comes down to the teams, do they put enough in to fuel them through the session or gamble and run them low with enough time to get some extra in before the first cut off etc.

They should also allow cars that have started their laps before the 90 sec cut off to finish them? After all the last car of the session gets this benefit, that would definitely help as well.
 
Soldato
Joined
28 Apr 2011
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14,884
Location
Barnet, London
They should also allow cars that have started their laps before the 90 sec cut off to finish them? After all the last car of the session gets this benefit, that would definitely help as well.

I personally think this just confuses things. There is a set time. The teams know how long it takes to get out and do a hot lap. Basically just making the cut off longer than 90 seconds would do the same thing.

I think given another session or two in this format they would get used to the fact they need to look a couple of eliminations ahead. Kind of surprised that these teams in a billion pound business didn't really grasp this aspect too well tbh.
 
Soldato
Joined
9 Nov 2005
Posts
8,695
Location
Southampton
I voted yes, not for what we saw at Melbourne and will see at Bahrain, but for what it could be with some tweaks such as...

Cars given enough fuel before qualifying starts to complete all 3 mini-sessions (to encourage faster times as qualifying progresses).

Cars must stay out on track, unless they are eliminated, otherwise their lap times are voided (except perhaps a mid- Q3 pit once half the Q3 cars have been eliminated). Unless weather conditions change mid way through a mini-session.

Most, if not all qualifying is done on the hardest tyre compound, to increase the odds of the fuel burning off after time resulting in quicker laps. tyres can only be replaced with another set of the same compound between sessions.

Perhaps allow a change to a driver's chosen option compound half way through Q3, once half the Q3 cars are out (for increased spectacle of seeing must faster times than earlier due to less fuel and much faster tyre compounds).

Cars can complete their current "flying lap" once the elimination timer has reached zero, at any point in any mini-session.

The elimination countdown time is dependent upon the track, set at for example at 107% of the best time from P1/2/3, rather than 1min30secs at each venue.

Tyres used for the race start are determined by the final grid positions after post-qualifying penalties, odd numbers starting on their option compound and even on their prime compound.
Q3 drivers must do a stint in the race with the softest slick tyres they used in Q3, unless rain prevents their use.
 
Soldato
Joined
14 Sep 2009
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9,208
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Northumberland
I liked Brundles idea of a sprint race to decide the grid positions for sunday, but then what would decide the positions for the sprint race?

Thankfully it should all be back to normal soon. :)
 
Caporegime
OP
Joined
8 Mar 2007
Posts
37,146
Location
Surrey
I voted yes, not for what we saw at Melbourne and will see at Bahrain, but for what it could be with some tweaks such as...

Cars given enough fuel before qualifying starts to complete all 3 mini-sessions (to encourage faster times as qualifying progresses).

Cars must stay out on track, unless they are eliminated, otherwise their lap times are voided (except perhaps a mid- Q3 pit once half the Q3 cars have been eliminated). Unless weather conditions change mid way through a mini-session.

Most, if not all qualifying is done on the hardest tyre compound, to increase the odds of the fuel burning off after time resulting in quicker laps. tyres can only be replaced with another set of the same compound between sessions.

Perhaps allow a change to a driver's chosen option compound half way through Q3, once half the Q3 cars are out (for increased spectacle of seeing must faster times than earlier due to less fuel and much faster tyre compounds).

Cars can complete their current "flying lap" once the elimination timer has reached zero, at any point in any mini-session.

The elimination countdown time is dependent upon the track, set at for example at 107% of the best time from P1/2/3, rather than 1min30secs at each venue.

Tyres used for the race start are determined by the final grid positions after post-qualifying penalties, odd numbers starting on their option compound and even on their prime compound.
Q3 drivers must do a stint in the race with the softest slick tyres they used in Q3, unless rain prevents their use.

So you want qualifying to be an even more complexly over regulated complicated mess, with totally random artificial adjustments making it an entire lottery, with a random timer based on an unrelated session, which would also mean randomly changing session lengths making it entirely unsuitable for TV.

Sounds great.

The simple fact you have had to write that many words to try and fix something that's already too complicated says it all.
 
Caporegime
Joined
13 Jan 2010
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32,601
Location
Llaneirwg
I I still think some sort of reverse grid race with half points or something would be amazing to watch
Even reverse from race result prior outing and on Sunday a race with position based on Saturday

Without some reverse system I don't know how you make the races exciting.
 
Caporegime
OP
Joined
8 Mar 2007
Posts
37,146
Location
Surrey
The reverse grid idea won't work while it's impossible to for cars to follow and pass.

Reverse grids work in series where the cars are equal and passing is possible. The impression is reverse grids will see lots of overtaking, when in reality it will see lots of processions with a soundtrack of drivers complaining. Even in the all conquouring Mercedes and with DRS Hamilton struggled to pass anyone once he dropped to 7th.

The only time we see people out of position coming back throgh the field is when they have the opportunity to alter their strategy, usually tyres and aero. That is not possible under normal circumstances. But there in lies the solution. We don't need to break qualifying or artificially screw with the race, what we need is cars lined up on the grid with varying strategies and an ability to pass each other. Nothing fake, nothing artificial, just... Common sense.
 
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