The FIA didn't get their way!!

[nichosnz 0]

The 4 major changes to come out of the meeting are...

Qualifing will now be two single lap runs for each driver one on Friday one on Saturday. Friday order is decided by championship order (not sure how Melborne works, maybe car number) and Saturdays order is decided by Fridays results, slowest first.

I like the idea of this especially in Monaco, no more whinging about traffic. But what if a driver has faults on both runs, eg Rain and Puncture. Not a fault of the driver or the team.

Bespoke Tyres Michelin can now bring different compounds for McLaren and Williams and Minardi... Bridgestone for Ferrari, Sauber, Jordan...

I really like this idea, all other major components on the car can be customised. Why not tyres.

Points will now be awarded to the top 8 finishers, at a scale of 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

History: This is the first time the points for 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th or 8th have been changed. I like the idea of awarding more of the field, it helps to see the true order of the mid to low field. Not so keen on reducing the gap from 1st to 2nd down to 2 points though.

Team Orders that alter the race result are now banned.

In theory I love this one, in reality how the heck do you police such a rule

The FIA have also agreed to investigate ways of making overtaking easier. I think the meeting has had a much more positive outcome than a lot of us feared.

[DJC-Grafix 0]

they all sound OK, i guess.

i like the quali, now just 2 chances, gotta bbe on the limit from the start.

points, good, coz minardi, sauber, jordan etc have had many 7, 8 finishes.

hope they work..

<_<

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Actually the qualifying only gives one chance, because the times from Friday will not in anyway affect towards position on the grid, just to your track position for Saturday. Sort of a bummer for those who go faster on Friday..

At least this is how I interpreted it, am I right or wrong?

[nichosnz 0]

The news sites seem to differ in their view here but...

From FIA

- There will be two qualifing sessions - Friday and Saturday, both 13:00 to 14:00;

- qualifing to be one (only) flying lap per car, cars to be run one at a time;

-running order on Friday to follow Championship (previous year at first race), with Championship leader going out first, 2nd in Championship going second, and so on;

- running order on Saturday will be determined by the Friday times (which do not count for the grid), so that the fastest on Friday runs last on Saturday, the second fastest second last, and so on.

So Saturday only counts as you said Jens.

And there is one more change - very expected

Testing if three or more teams inform the FIA (by 15 December) not to run more than 10 car days private testing during the season (1 Mar to 1 Nov). These teams will be allowed to run with spare cars and test drivers (in addition to race team) from 09:00 to 11:00 on the friday of each event.

This I feel is one of the best changes as team like Minardi may be able to test more for less expence.

[December 0]

Although I find the changes very interesting, I must admit I am infuriated that they felt a need to 'stop' schuey from winning constantly.

Yes I'm a Schuey fan and a Ferrari fan but I stopped watching most of last season because it was all so damn 'processional'. Like watching a parade of cars following their 'standard' order. So for that reason I am pleased some changes have been made. But the reason why "now" is the time, seems a little dodgy and unsportsmanlike to me.

However, I do not feel the 'team orders' rule is ever going to be effectively policed [see Jens' editorial as to why] and if they were going to change the point system, why on earth didn't they add 1 point for pole position and 1 point to the driver who leads the longest on the track?

This is a system implemented by Indy Champ Cart thingy [whichever one it damn is LOL] and is wonderful for cars that lead most of the race and then blow up, or are shunted out etc. It rewards drivers for being good, and the point for pole position is great if smaller teams get on it due to the new qualifying rules.

Anyway that's probably enough of my rant. I'm glad that Michael doesn't have to drive Ruben's car nor wear an extra 150kg of weight on his car and use a smaller fuel tank all because of who Schuey is. At least they weren't agreeing to the absolute ridiculous. It isn't Schuey's fault that he's the best, and I don't see why he should be penalised for it.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

I agree that it is wrong to penalise for being good, and am glad that none of the crazy proposals even came close to going through. The changes dont really change a lot in F1, if the Ferrari car is better than the rest by the same margin as this year then they will still be winning just as often, because changing qualifying doesnt change the race, except maybe Monaco and Hungary.

As for the team orders rule, it will be hard to police, but surely it is good to have as a rule. As December said, more on that in the Wrap

[nichosnz 0]

Michael himself has stated that the new qualifing rule is designed for his benefit. This due to the fact it has been known for years that he in quick 'out of the box' compared to other drivers.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

I think Hakkinen was better over one lap than Schumacher, so this would have been an interesting comparison between the two. I think drivers like Trulli and Raikkonen will shine thanks to this new rule, while drivers i.e. Montoya and Ralf will suffer.

[daz 0]

Overall I agree with nichosnz here. The changes are pretty good (Except for the kicking out of Spa ). I do however have a couple of questions with regards to the qualifying. Firstly does the 107% rule still apply? I'm thinking that if it does then some of the smaller teams are actually going to have a harder time making it to the grid next year than they ever did this year. Secondly is it just the best time that will count towards the grid or is it the average of both Friday & Saturday's runs? I've read some conflicting reports with regards to this thats why I was wondering if any of you knew...

As or the other rule changes:

Custom made tyres for each team can only be good for the sport (& it might even make both Mclaren & Williams competitive on the same weekend ). I don't really know if its in the spirit of cost cutting allowing different tyres but overall it should make for entertaining viewing for all of us which can't be bad.

I also like the idea of rewarding the lower teams for actually finishing races with some extra points. Like nichosnz I do however think that there should have being more reward for winning the race than 2 points. I think there idea though is to see a closer championship next year which I'm not to upset about then.

As for the team orders idea - I'm all for it, if it could actually be regulated (which as we all know - it can't be). So I'm going to reserve jusgement on that idea until I can actually see it being enforced. Got a feeling though that we're going to see lots of strange little pit stops whenever a team now wants to swap its drivers positions round on the track. Will have to wait and see.

Overall - I'm one satisfied customer though.

[Sato 0]

all im gona say is the ruke changes are ok......even though i liked the old ones from an histroical point since i grew up and those were the rules all the time...but still they are ok........i won't comment on schumi you all no how i feel about him (the lil cheat)

[nichosnz 0]

Daz the post I made earlier should clear up the Friday Vs Saturday question.

From FIA

- There will be two qualifing sessions - Friday and Saturday, both 13:00 to 14:00;

- qualifing to be one (only) flying lap per car, cars to be run one at a time;

-running order on Friday to follow Championship (previous year at first race), with Championship leader going out first, 2nd in Championship going second, and so on;

- running order on Saturday will be determined by the Friday times (which do not count for the grid), so that the fastest on Friday runs last on Saturday, the second fastest second last, and so on.

and yes daz the 107% rule does still apply, not quite fair as the slower teams will be running first on Saturday, the slowest point of the qualifing session is first.

Jens I do agree MH may have been better over a single lap. But usually MS was better over the first single lap, MH was up to speed on run 2 or 3.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

True.. Friday times will not in any way affect the grid, even if your Saturday time is slower that is the time that you get.

[nichosnz 0]

I think there will be a lot of drivers appealing for special dispensation to be allowed on the grid, and error anywhere (judgement, chassis or engine failures) could see championship contenders starting from the back of the grid!

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

I suspect we will see it at least once, be it Ralf, David, or Rubens making a mistake and spinning off and having to start from the very rear of the grid. I think the 107% rule will kick into play when the driver has a clean lap but still doesn't make it, though I guess we will not find out until it is put into play.

[nichosnz 0]

At least once for driver error, but over and over for chassis or engine failure.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Well the car must break down over the course of either the out lap or quick lap, so I think it will happen at least a few times. But I think it will be more often for a slight mistake at a tricky turn that will have the top cars lower on the grid..

[nichosnz 0]

Or even pleeding to be allowed onto the back of the grid.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

I think we will see cases where they dont get inside 107%, but are allowed to start the race from either the pitlane or the back of the grid. Otherwise there may be races with 16 car grids and so forth, and the FIA doesnt want that.

[nichosnz 0]

Guys think about this...

For years people have been suggesting a reverse grid, we could well get somthing similar to that is we get a 'wet and getting wetter' gualifing hour on a Saturday. If this weather change happens suddenly (as can and does happen) after a brilliantly fine first 6 laps or so we could see a Minardi front row, unlikely but possible.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

I wont bother writing it all again, check out the newest Wrap for my views on this particular subject!

[nichosnz 0]

Sorry Jens hadn't got around to reading the wrap when I wrote that. You mentioned in the wrap that championship battles would be closer, some even with different outcomes. This past year though MS would only have had to wait 1 week longer to be champion, in Germany.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Yea, but Irvine would have prevailed in 1999, and I think some of the mid 90's results could have been different as well, I will have to count up how 1997 would have turned out as it was very close.

But they will be closer, simply because mathematics says so. The points gap from 1st to 2nd is smaller, so the chance is so great for it to be closer.

[nichosnz 0]

I have started recalculating the championships (am only up to 1963) and there are a lot of changes to the top 5 each year, but so far the only difference in champions is 1950 Luigi Faglioli would have beaten Guiseppe Farina.

[nichosnz 0]

Although immediatly after posting that I calculated 1964, 1965 and Graham Hill became champion over John Surtees and Jim Clark.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Interesting.. Werent the point systems back in the 50's and 60's different as to what we have had the past few years?