New Qualifying format a flop or not?

[Garry Walker]

This new qualifying format was the creation of complete imbeciles. The sad part is that Bernie & Co will probably think of something even worse for 2017.

[Whyzars]

Beginning to think it doesn't matter what qualifying system they use if they're all going to crash into each other at the first corner - not an ideal way of shuffling the pack, but it seems to work

It is consistent for all drivers and easily implemented because current rules require drivers to return to the pits with a minimum fuel load. Different drivers would return with different minimums.

	New	Old		Before	After	Cg	Handicap	Weight
	1	3	Valtteri Bottas	1:36.536	1:36.746	+2	0.21	+7
	2	2	Sebastian Vettel	1:36.123	1:37.113	0	0.99	+33
	3	7	Sergio Perez	1:37.212	1:37.212	+4	0	0
	4	4	Kimi Räikkönen	1:36.663	1:37.503	0	0.84	+28
	5	1	Nico Rosberg	1:35.417	1:37.667	-4	2.25	+75
	6	5	Felipe Massa	1:37.016	1:37.676	-1	0.66	+22
	7	9	Max Verstappen	1:37.583	1:37.973	+2	0.39	+13
	8	8	Daniil Kvyat	1:37.459	1:38.089	0	0.63	+21
	9	6	Daniel Ricciardo	1:37.125	1:38.205	-3	1.08	+36

Anyway, just playing but Bottas is on pole again.

From this race onward, the extra weight will begin to influence who graduates from Q2 to Q1. Good to see Perez in the mix.

[Garry Walker]

It is consistent for all drivers and easily implemented because current rules require drivers to return to the pits with a minimum fuel load. Different drivers would return with different minimums.

	New	Old		Before	After	Cg	Handicap	Weight
	1	3	Valtteri Bottas	1:36.536	1:36.746	+2	0.21	+7
	2	2	Sebastian Vettel	1:36.123	1:37.113	0	0.99	+33
	3	7	Sergio Perez	1:37.212	1:37.212	+4	0	0
	4	4	Kimi Räikkönen	1:36.663	1:37.503	0	0.84	+28
	5	1	Nico Rosberg	1:35.417	1:37.667	-4	2.25	+75
	6	5	Felipe Massa	1:37.016	1:37.676	-1	0.66	+22
	7	9	Max Verstappen	1:37.583	1:37.973	+2	0.39	+13
	8	8	Daniil Kvyat	1:37.459	1:38.089	0	0.63	+21
	9	6	Daniel Ricciardo	1:37.125	1:38.205	-3	1.08	+36

Anyway, just playing but Bottas is on pole again.

From this race onward, the extra weight will begin to influence who graduates from Q2 to Q1. Good to see Perez in the mix.

To be honest, your qualifying format "idea" makes me vomit

[Whyzars]

To be honest, your qualifying format "idea" makes me vomit

Thats a new one for me, I have never heard of an "idea" acting as an emetic. The DRS and KERS had a similar effect on me but from the other end.

I was actually thinking that I may not put up any more tables now that Rosberg has filled his tank. The thought of your keyboard swimming in cheap wine and vindaloo may be all the encouragement I need to continue.

Thank you for your input.

[Garry Walker]

Thats a new one for me, I have never heard of an "idea" acting as an emetic. The DRS and KERS had a similar effect on me but from the other end.

I was actually thinking that I may not put up any more tables now that Rosberg has filled his tank. The thought of your keyboard swimming in cheap wine and vindaloo may be all the encouragement I need to continue.

Thank you for your input.

Make sure that as you continue your quest for this holy new qualifying system, you don't overlook your real duty - asking me "do you want fries with that" when I order a burger.

[Whyzars]

...don't overlook your real duty - asking me "do you want fries with that" when I order a burger.

The latest grid installment at .03 seconds per kilogram handicap:

New	Old		Before	After	Cg	Handicap Secs	Weight Kgs
1	1	Lewis Hamilton	1:22.000	1:23.171	0	1.71	57
2	4	Max Verstappen	1:23.087	1:23.477	+2	0.39	13
3	3	Daniel Ricciardo	1:22.680	1:23.760	0	1.08	36
4	8	Carlos Sainz	1:23.643	1:23.775	+4	0.12	4
5	9	Sergio Perez	1:23.782	1:23.842	+4	0.06	2
6	7	Valtteri Bottas	1:23.522	1:24.092	+1	0.57	19
7	10	Fernando Alonso	1:23.981	1:24.221	+3	0.24	8
8	6	Sebastian Vettel	1:23.334	1:24.324	-2	0.99	33
9	12	Jenson Button	1:24.348	1:24.378	+3	0.03	1
10	11	Nico Hulkenberg	1:24.203	1:24.383	+1	0.18	6
11	5	Kimi Räikkönen	1:23.113	1:24.403	-6	1.29	43
12	2	Nico Rosberg	1:22.280	1:25.280	-10	3.00	100

Applying a weight handicap in qualifying could be a way forward for F1. Only trigger the DRS by cars under blue flag could be another. We might actually see some racing again.

It sure beats a re-write of the rule book.

[Garry Walker]

Applying a weight handicap in qualifying could be a way forward for F1.

Also, castrating yourself could be used for weight-loss. Just as good an idea as yours

[The Black Knight]

I still don't really understand why everyone is so obsessed with changing a qualifying format that works really well right now. If it isn't broken then don't fix it.

As Ross Brawn said, they tried many different formats before coming up with this one that works really well so why change it?

If you're to change anything in F1 then start by getting rid of DRS and bring Back a tire war. That's a sure way to get drivers racing flat out lap after lap again and stop artificial overtaking.

[Whyzars]

I still don't really understand why everyone is so obsessed with changing a qualifying format that works really well right now. If it isn't broken then don't fix it.

As Ross Brawn said, they tried many different formats before coming up with this one that works really well so why change it?

If you're to change anything in F1 then start by getting rid of DRS and bring Back a tire war. That's a sure way to get drivers racing flat out lap after lap again and stop artificial overtaking.

Absolutely no argument from me especially on the DRS but I saw the qualifying changes as trying to address a bigger problem.


I don't think that the Mercedes is qualifying to its full potential but being managed "equally" such that the grid 1 and 2 is guaranteed. Nobody would argue that Spain is a very different race if Nico starts in 12th place.


The formula is supposed to be an engineering challenge but what to do when that challenge is clearly won? They're limiting the available fuel so its not like Ferrari can unveil a new V12 dual turbo engine. Banning was F1's way of dealing with dominance in the past but F1 has signed itself up to something it can't really ban - there's no getting the hybrid sh*t back in the hybrid horse so to speak.


Mercedes needs to be challenged in a way that doesn't penalise their race expectations and a weight handicap for qualifying seems logical. No change to the qualifying format is necessary and cars will just need to return to the pits with the required minimum amount of fuel in their tank - just as they do now.


I would actually like to see the full Mercedes potential and what a true marvel that car really is.