F1 teams agree elimination style qualifying for 2016

11:04 Big news breaking this morning that the much-debated qualifying revamp is going ahead with FIA approval - and in its 'mark one' form (i.e. full-on elimination format throughout):
FIA approves elimination revamp for Formula 1 qualifying
Autosport.comFormula 1's new knockout qualifying format has been approved in its original form by the World Motor Sport Council, Autosport understands

 

I saw that earlier too. I dunno, call me an optimist but it might not be so bad. It will basically be just Nico and Lewis at the end of Q3 head to head. Might be fun...

 

+1 I will attempt to let it be put into practice and see what we get.

 

+1

I think we will get used to that.

I am all in favour of cars getting out of the pits and go onto the track, rather than watching them in the garage.

 

Will this be similar to the qualifying format from the late-90's and early-2000's (when Schumacher always seemed to pull a rabbit out of his hat to take pole position)?

I'd love to see that again.

 

No. If anything it's more the opposite. Just two cars at the end of Q3 head to head.

 

Are you sure? Won't they just bag a super fast lap time at the beginning of each session then retire to the outs to watch the knock out action? I don't see how this format will get the fastest drivers out at the end?

 

That may be the case for Q1 and Q2, but with Q3 knocking out all but 2, I think it will get everyone out for most of the session.

 

Q1 and two they might do that but in Q3 you'd be taking a huge risk of getting knocked out if you tried to turn a quick one early then park it. I think you pretty much have to be out there the whole time. The track usually gets faster the more it rubbers in.

 

Soon you will need a PHD degree to follow this sport.

 

Just seems stupid. I would guess there will be many cases this year where there won't be enough time, with traffic and other circumstances, for a good car to lay down a good lap.

Introducing this kind of randomness so fast cars start at the back is beyond moronic and unfair to the teams and drivers. If you want to make the sport more exciting and competitive focus on more mechanical grip and limited downforce for 2017 as many have advocated.

The fastest drivers and cars should start at the front; not be handicapped by a system designed to "entertain". Furthermore, with so many cars on track and such limited time, I bet this is going to be very hard to follow for the fans and equally annoying for the broadcasters to accurately report.

F1 is a ship with no captain.

 

That's my impression as well.

Times will come on the track, not staying in the pits.

 

This contains the exact wording of the qualifying procedure:

F1 spells out new qualifying format in its regulations | FOX Sports

 

Fernando Alonso: Teams will master new f1 qualifying instantly!

By Glenn Freeman and Dieter Rencken
Tuesday, March 15th 2016, 10:43 GMT

Fernando Alonso: Teams will master new f1 qualifying instantly - F1 news - AUTOSPORT.com

Fernando Alonso expects Formula 1 teams to master the new qualifying format for 2016 immediately, believing everyone will have worked out the best approach before the Australian Grand Prix.

F1's qualifying system has been changed for the first time since 2006 this year, with the three segments now concluding with cars being eliminated at 90-second intervals in the closing stages.

The new qualifying procedure in full

While Alonso was one of several drivers critical of the way the changes were handled in the last few weeks, he does not expect teams to get caught out by the new system.

"We have so many talented people, so many clever people, they will understand perfectly the rules and we will all do the same," Alonso told reporters during his recent visit to Baku ahead of the city's first grand prix later this year.

"There will be one exact mathematic formula to do the right thing, so I don't think there will be any adaptation time.

"For the drivers I don't think it will change much, we will do very fast laps when it's time to do it."

Alonso is more concerned with how the new format will be received by fans, because he feels the qualifying format has been overcomplicated.

"From the outside, it's a little bit more difficult because it will take a couple of races to understand the system," he added.

"I don't think it was necessary to change. Formula 1 is very complex sometimes, difficult to understand from the outside.

"One thing that was very easy to understand [qualifying] - we've changed it.

"Let's see if people can adapt to this."

 

Watching the qualifying session this morning I found myself confused, frustrated and disappointed to say the least. I hope they change back to the old rules and drop this no sense. Qualifying used to be the best part of the Grand Prix. I seriously think that this sport is getting worse every year.

 

Boy, did that fall flat on its face. What a boring format. I'll be surprised if they don't revert to the old format soon.

 

Well... that sucked.

Just lots of cars waiting in the pits for the counter to expire or on track doing hot laps that won't count. This had exactly the opposite effect of intended and there were less cars on track doing less laps than the previous format.

They should abandon this format. It's terrible.

All the best,
Andrew.

 

+1

I believe they had good intentions - such changes can't be introduced without unanimous approval - but they didn't listen to the geeks (Bas, among many others, called it! ) as to how it would play out.

Watching the Sky post quali talking heads interviewing many folks, I'd be willing to bet it'll be gone by Bahrain.

Cheers,
Ian

 

Terrible qualifying rules.

They should have been focused on making the sport more exciting-i.e. ditch the token development rules, or give teams who are not winning a little leeway to increase the speed/reliability of their cars.

Is it really hard to understand that we the fans want to watch races that are interesting and unpredictable. That was the most boring qualifying to date.

 

I was on the fence about going to a race this year, not anymore. What an utter disaster this format turned out to be. Could you imagine the people that spent good money to be track side on Saturday in Melbourne? Unbelievable!!!!!!

 

Dumbest idea ever.

Any qualifying where it's better stragetically to have the field park the cars with 3 minutes left than try to better themselves is dumb.

 

At least flying laps should count..countdown 90 sec elimination is unfair and outright boring...

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The road to hell is paved with good intentions.