As I started this thread I will report the results of the poll and summarise the suggestions for new qualifying formats, after the poll closes. Thanks for your contributions so far. Just a few things to comment on.
SMP wrote:....Many of the current rules were brought in to stop Schumi's domination. Eg - pre-set fuel loads (to try and mix up the grid a bit) and point system (to keep things close for longer). This was very wrong (reacting to a great sporting performance rather than changing things based on logic) and maybe these should be rolled back now.
Couldn't agree more. Knee jerk reaction to a great driver's total domination of the sport. But I still think preset fuel loads are an interesting innovation. The worst idea anybody had was the single lap qualifying! That was a terrible procession and with bad weather a complete lottery (the idea I know but what sacrileage!).
bhallg2k wrote:Teams should be allowed to qualify on whatever fuel load they desire, and also with whatever car settings they desire - just so long as no parts are changed between quali and the race - and then be allowed to readjust fuel and settings for the race....
I think this gets to one of the points of interest - echoed by the likes of
nae and
SMP. I don't want to see the return of the special qualifying cars. Only the big teams could afford such a luxury and the tables are skewed enough in F1. But Park Ferme is a bit on the strict side. As long as no parts are changed what is the problem with allowing the teams to fettle with the cars overnight? Surely it would give some of the teams lower down the order the chance to fine tune the setup for the race if they were struggling to dial the car in before qualufying.
Ted68 wrote:How about a two heat, reverse grid quallifying race?
Heat 1. Teams start in reverse order of the previous race finish and run for 15 laps, pit for 30 minutes, refuel and fit new tyres and are able to adjust the car and change parts.
Heat 2. Starts in finishing order of first heat for 15 more laps. The finishing order of Heat 2 is the start grid of the race. After heat 2, teams are allowed to adjust the car, refuel, fit new tyres but not change parts....
Never thought of this option before
Ted68! I think I like it but at the same time, two mini races could get awfully messy with all those drivers trying to overtake for poll. Would any cars make it to the main event?
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Given the 40% vote (to date) in favour of drivers declaring their race fuel levels before qualifying, does that mean there is a large minority in support for the added dimension this adds to the race itself?
Is it just a bit of artifice to spice up the race by having nonoptimal fuel loads in cars because they had to estimate their grid position prior to qualifying?
Does this add to your experience of watching the main event or distract from it?
More question!? Well I could continue but I'm really interested in what this innovation has added to F1 since its introduction. Afterall we've had it for a few years now.
SMP wrote:
But having the cars qualify with race fuel only provides an artificial mix up. I prefer some rare overtaking of great class and oppurtunism rather than watching a Ferrari/McLaren overtake a Force India or a Super Aguri in every race. (A bit of exqageration but, you get the point).
My personal opinion is that if cars are going to be allowed to refuel during the race (another thread anyone?) then you must make them declare their race fuel level before qualifying. If not then any team can split their cars across, say a two stop and three stop strategy - let the light car shoot off in front and the car that qualified behind can hold up the pack for as long as possible, trying to ruin everyone else's day.
Nothing to say that you can't do this with the current rules but without knowing where your cars are on the grid it is a lot harder - way too many variables even for an F1 team. I think it keeps the teams and us guessing beyond the end of qualifying about what will happen in the race.
I would still like to hear some expert opinion on the following, ta.
senna-toleman wrote:Does it stand that the best strategy is to carry as much fuel as possible whilst still giving yourself a shot at pole. I say this because it seems reasonable to assume that it is much better to carry more fuel and get pole by 0.01s than to have run light and grabbed pole by, say 0.5s. Can you take this a step further and say it is better to err on being too heavy and risk only getting on the second row if you know that you have wrung everything out of the car and are in good shape for the race.
