Bring a car, compete in Q1. Why not?

[jon-mullen]

So our grid's under what it was advertised to be while other teams continue to show interest. Doesn't it look silly? Insular? Uncompetitive?

Putting politics and guaranteed monies aside, what technical and sporting issues would have to be sorted out to have a quali open to anyone with a car and some cash?

Garage space? Room on track to set a fast lap? Maybe guarantee grid spots for the previous year's top constructors to keep the powerhouses around?

IMHO, we need something better than the 107% rule to make it a good race up and down the grid. And apparently to get teams to show up.

[WhiteBlue]

It is prohibitivly expensive. And there is no space in the paddock at fly away races or Monaco.

The next selection process will be much better without the complications that plagued the 2010 process.

It would be relatively easy to select a main candidate and a reserve. Control both team in the run up to testing which would be at the end of the season. If the prime candidate fails the reserve or reserves can step in. I would even go so far to guarantee the reserve team the right to step in if a slot gets vacant during the year. Thus you have an organized succession and a much better chance for a reserve team.

[bill shoe]

This is the right question. I think the answer is: nothing. It's possible to operate formula cars without a garage. It's possible for more than 24 cars to competitively qualify on the same track. F1 would feel a bit different if every race had 30 teams competing for 26 (28?) grid spots, but it would feel different in a way that was good for fans of F1 as a sport. It would be more competitive and would have a reduced image of being an exclusive club for high-status people.

I think a secondary effect of open qualifying would be that the cost of buying a ride at the rear of the grid would go down due to more supply and cheaper supply. This would nudge F1 in the direction of being more of a meritocracy for drivers.

[Green Genes]

I can imagine smaller whole-season teams desperate to hold onto sponsor money having their budgets cut even further when they're out qualified by one off Monaco Specials or Monza Rockets. Is it right that a team with the fraction of the resources can develop a specialized car to score championship points at one high profile race? I bet a 1-2 at Monza would pay for itself if the team didn't have to also travel around the world or buy a season's worth of engines or make the car work in all configurations.

[marcush.]

my idea is a bit different:
10 teams are qualifying for the proper race so business as usual for them .
from Slot No 11 püarticipation is made up by a prequaly process :

if there is not more than 13 other competitors everything will be handled as today.
if there are more than 13 teams aiming for the race for these teams the weekend starts early on thursday with a 2 1 hour qualifying sessions .In the next morning
a qualy session with Q1,2,3 is taking place as it is in the feature race .And directly after this or after the free practise of the main group a shootout race is
done with a say half GP distance ,and decide who gets access into the feature race.
the guys go directly into Q1 after having raced.Cars not able to compete will replaced by the next competitor.
the main advantage will be:New and Slower teams get additional mileage ,and time to acclimatise,new drivers seat time and additional prep in Qualifying and racecraft.
The lowrank teams get additional exposure,and a ways to sell their space better

after each event the ranking is updated.so if your team is in trouble you instantly get additional mileage to redress the balance...
you can afford to have a lot of additional teams ,as the weekend is providing racing and exposure and a possible suden rise into the big time if you can perform a Force india per example.. so a very attractive proposition to potential sponsors.

the package is making saturday very attarctive too,as you will have a constant buildup towards the qualy proper with a uncertainty who will participate in the main race.
and this would also allow for non permanent teams to participate and get a toe into the water.

[timbo]

It would be relatively easy to select a main candidate and a reserve. Control both team in the run up to testing which would be at the end of the season. If the prime candidate fails the reserve or reserves can step in. I would even go so far to guarantee the reserve team the right to step in if a slot gets vacant during the year. Thus you have an organized succession and a much better chance for a reserve team.

So, if your prime candidate does not fail, your reserve team gotta spend money in vain?
I'd say the whole main/reserve thing is bulls**t.
There should be only one candidate. If it fails the grid spot is vacant until next year.

[WhiteBlue]

In the end the teams will work out the criteria together with the FiA. There will be no F1 racing without FiA license. So if the teams decide they want an annual pre qualifying shoot out the winner still needs to have an FiA license which will ensure that crooks and con men will stay out.

[Giblet]

Crash test and scrutineering in Bahrain to ensure wheels don't fly off into the crowd, or some level of engineering expertise guaranteed so tubs don't split in half.

[xpensive]

This is pretty much what F1 used to be 20 years ago, just re-introduce pre-qualifying on Thursday when the paddock is kept vacant for anyone with a car which makes it through scrutiny, then allow for 30 cars to qualify and 26 to race?

[marcush.]

This is pretty much what F1 used to be 20 years ago, just re-introduce pre-qualifying on Thursday when the paddock is kept vacant for anyone with a car which makes it through scrutiny, then allow for 30 cars to qualify and 26 to race?

yep ,but those had the trouble that some never made it throu prequaly and had nothing to sell to sponsors.
A qualy race would get them coverage and experience ,mileage ,so all the effort
with testing etc can be spread into raceweekend to make things bearable.
I would of course let the top teams do NO more testing.
As we can see ,they are happy to bring their updates untested to the track ,as aknolwleddged by Brawn and Newey so why bother ?Away with testing .Only those who are new or have failed to be in the top 10 will get additional running time in
the prequaly loop .
I think this is very cost effective and helps level out the forces.

[xpensive]

@marcush; I'm sure that I am not alone thinking that your posts would gain from a bit of typing-technical attention?

No offence.

[marcush.]

@marcush; I'm sure that I am not alone thinking that your posts would gain from a bit of typing-technical attention?

No offence.

I´ll work on it, sure I´m too lazy in this I am aware of this .
Apologies there, it is not meant to be unrespectful towards the forum members and needs adressing.