Qualifying Format Set For Finalisation

[Senna 0]

Qualifying format set for finalisation

Knock-out qualifying is the latest proposal...

Source: AFP

Will all the teams agree a new qualifying format?

Formula One's proposed new qualifying format is on the verge of being finalised after teams agreed here this weekend to compromise on plans for 2006. Two of the sport's leading technical chiefs, Ross Brawn and Patrick Head, have been charged with solving problems in the fine details of a format which will see cars knocked out during a one-hour session.

Commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone met with the team bosses at Interlagos on Friday and all are desperate to rid the sport of the single lap format that has proved unpopular since its introduction in 2003.

The problem with the proposed new format is cars have already been designed for next year based on running with fuel in qualifying and the knockout format was devised based on cars using light fuel loads.

But BAR Honda CEO Nick Fry believes they can overcome the problem and said: "There are certain issues with the knock-out format as to when you fuel up the cars and that is what needs to be sorted out. Do you fuel at the start of the hour or do you allow fuelling in between for some teams rather than others? You could allow the guys who get knocked out in the first two rounds to then have free fuel."

"That then gives them the opportunity to maybe then catch up, whereas the last ten, maybe, have to run with the fuel in the car at the end of their qualifying lap. There are a number of different permutations and it is quite complicated."

The new format will see all cars out on track for the first 15 minutes with the slowest five getting knocked out before a second 15-minute session after which the next five are knocked out to leave ten cars.

Under the proposed fuelling plans the back of the grid will then be decided on those times, which would be run on low fuel, then the rest of the cars will be fuelled up and have 20 minutes to decide the grid order for the front.

"It means you get a lot of running through the hour and from a tele-visual point of view a number of us like it," said Fry. "I think that the details could be sorted this weekend, there is not a lot of stuff needs to be done."

Ecclestone said on Friday that he had already put a proposal to the Formula One commission but Fry suggested there are still some creases to iron out of the idea before that can be finalised.

Although all sides appear to now be pushing for the change Fry remained cagey over predicting it will finally happen because of all the missed opportunities that have happened in the past. Asked if the proposal was a definite Fry said: "I think that is going a bit far! We have had so many discussions on this and it is quite complicated but I hope we can sort it out in the near future."

[demonhorse 0]

Qualifying format set for finalisation

Knock-out qualifying is the latest proposal...

Source: AFP

Will all the teams agree a new qualifying format?

Formula One's proposed new qualifying format is on the verge of being finalised after teams agreed here this weekend to compromise on plans for 2006. Two of the sport's leading technical chiefs, Ross Brawn and Patrick Head, have been charged with solving problems in the fine details of a format which will see cars knocked out during a one-hour session.

Commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone met with the team bosses at Interlagos on Friday and all are desperate to rid the sport of the single lap format that has proved unpopular since its introduction in 2003.

The problem with the proposed new format is cars have already been designed for next year based on running with fuel in qualifying and the knockout format was devised based on cars using light fuel loads.

But BAR Honda CEO Nick Fry believes they can overcome the problem and said: "There are certain issues with the knock-out format as to when you fuel up the cars and that is what needs to be sorted out. Do you fuel at the start of the hour or do you allow fuelling in between for some teams rather than others? You could allow the guys who get knocked out in the first two rounds to then have free fuel."

"That then gives them the opportunity to maybe then catch up, whereas the last ten, maybe, have to run with the fuel in the car at the end of their qualifying lap. There are a number of different permutations and it is quite complicated."

The new format will see all cars out on track for the first 15 minutes with the slowest five getting knocked out before a second 15-minute session after which the next five are knocked out to leave ten cars.

Under the proposed fuelling plans the back of the grid will then be decided on those times, which would be run on low fuel, then the rest of the cars will be fuelled up and have 20 minutes to decide the grid order for the front.

"It means you get a lot of running through the hour and from a tele-visual point of view a number of us like it," said Fry. "I think that the details could be sorted this weekend, there is not a lot of stuff needs to be done."

Ecclestone said on Friday that he had already put a proposal to the Formula One commission but Fry suggested there are still some creases to iron out of the idea before that can be finalised.

Although all sides appear to now be pushing for the change Fry remained cagey over predicting it will finally happen because of all the missed opportunities that have happened in the past. Asked if the proposal was a definite Fry said: "I think that is going a bit far! We have had so many discussions on this and it is quite complicated but I hope we can sort it out in the near future."

I would love to see the knockout format go ahead, maybe with free refueling allowed. I don't what the thing is with qualifying with race fuel levels, it doesn't add to the entertainment for me.

[Buttonfan 0]

i like that one the most, that should be made official

[AutoRacer5 0]

Interesting. I'd prefer the 12 lap system, but make it 18 laps, with 6 of them used in the first half hour, no parc ferme stuff.

[Buttonfan 0]

I like the shootout version, like IRL did Sat for Watkins Glen

[nojvnof1 0]

I prefer the 2003 format, but with low fuel runs on both Friday and Saturday. Teams put fuel in after quali in parc ferme and inform FIA of fuel load.

[cavallino 2]

This is good news. anything different from the present parade lap format is good news.

[ykickamoocow 0]

I prefer the 2003 format, but with low fuel runs on both Friday and Saturday. Teams put fuel in after quali in parc ferme and inform FIA of fuel load.

I liked that formatt to but i think i will like the knockout formatt as well but really im just glad we are moving away from the single lap formatt which i hate.

[nojvnof1 0]

anything is better than what we have to endure at present, however I quite like the single lap element, just not in its current format if that makes any sense

[Senna 0]

anything is better than what we have to endure at present, however I quite like the single lap element, just not in its current format if that makes any sense

I don

[narain fan 0]

I don’t like any of these proposals…

cant we revert to previous low fuel 1 hr format!!

[Senna 0]

cant we revert to previous low fuel 1 hr format!!

I sympathise

[Kennye 0]

I like the shootout version, like IRL did Sat for Watkins Glen

Got that race on my DVR and yet to watch it. Got to watch the GP when I got home from my depressing trip to watch the pitiful NY Jets play another horrible (American) football game. Only week three, but As I have said every year for almost 30 years, "Wait until next year!!!" It does get easier to say every year.....

I don

[pumpdoc 2]

Got that race on my DVR and yet to watch it. Got to watch the GP when I got home from my depressing trip to watch the pitiful NY Jets play another horrible (American) football game. Only week three, but As I have said every year for almost 30 years, "Wait until next year!!!" It does get easier to say every year.....

What type of Qualifying would you have like to have been adopted to replace these boring sessions?

I voted for the shootout format so I am a happy camper (for now), lets see what the fine details are.

Did you watch MY Chargers demolish the Giants later on? LT LT LT LT LT LT LT

I can't believ you watch gIRL racing

[juanpablo 0]

any proposal would be better than the one lap Sh#t we have now !

bring back the 12 laps free for all 1 hr low fuel sessions ! now THAT was exciting !

[Buttonfan 0]

McLaren wil be front row every race of nothing happens if they go to the 12 lap thing

[narain fan 0]

any proposal would be better than the one lap Sh#t we have now !

bring back the 12 laps free for all 1 hr low fuel sessions ! now THAT was exciting !

well i cant believe 3 people in this thread alone want FREE FOR ALL and fia says most no of votes were received for KNOCKOUT they certainly did not have free for all as one of the options .anyway i could not vote as they had some problems

[Buttonfan 0]

I dont lilke the free for all

[bajo39 0]

I think it is far more important to determine who is the fastest driver over a single lap than it is to make the session exciting. Casual fans don't watch qualifying anyway...

[Senna 0]

I think it is far more important to determine who is the fastest driver over a single lap than it is to make the session exciting. Casual fans don't watch qualifying anyway...

So are you suggesting a return to the qualifying format used before 2003?

[bajo39 0]

So are you suggesting a return to the qualifying format used before 2003?

I'm not sure which format is the best to be honest so I don't have a specific suggesion but I do think the guiding principle should be the determination of the fastest driver over a single lap. I suppose if I was to have it all my way, the drivers would qualify on full fuel, enough to last an entire race distance since I don't believe in refueling, with racing spec parts and tyres.

[Senna 0]

I'm not sure which format is the best to be honest so I don't have a specific suggesion but I do think the guiding principle should be the determination of the fastest driver over a single lap. I suppose if I was to have it all my way, the drivers would qualify on full fuel, enough to last an entire race distance since I don't believe in refueling, with racing spec parts and tyres.

Interesting

[bajo39 0]

Interesting

[Senna 0]

I had not thought of that but you raise an excellent point. Drivers with the skill to manage their fuel consumption should be rewarded for employing this skill! The more skill we require from the drivers, the better IMO... although others disagree with me for obvious reasons.

Exactly. However sometimes, in the past, fuel gauge readings were inaccurate and this created all kinds of problems for the drivers as they didn

[nojvnof1 0]

I say low fuel quali, the fill the tanks up (as Dan says) prior to the race and ban refuelling.