New Quali Rules for 2008

[EIR Loe.307]

Not a huge change though.


The FIA has announced that as of 2008 the qualifying format will change slightly. Qualifying, which has three rounds, will start with a 20-minute qualifying session followed by 15-minute Q2, and a 10-minute session for Q3.

The format was mainly changed as the final qualifying session saw Formula 1 drivers run for around ten minutes to empty their fuel tanks.

The FIA states in its rules on qualifying:
The qualifying practice session will take place on the day before the race from 14.00 to 15.00. The session will be run as follows :
a) From 14.00 to 14.20 (Q1) all cars will be permitted on the track and at the end of this period the slowest seven cars will be prohibited from taking any further part in the session. Lap times achieved by the seventeen remaining cars will then be deleted.

b) From 14.27 to 14.42 (Q2) the seventeen remaining cars will be permitted on the track and at the end of this period the slowest seven cars will be prohibited from taking any further part in the session. Lap times achieved by the ten remaining cars will then be deleted.

c) From 14.50 to 15.00 (Q3) the ten remaining cars will be permitted on the track.
The above procedure is based upon a Championship entry of 24 cars. If 22 cars are entered only six cars will be excluded after Q1 and Q2.

[Ryan]

It's just reduce the amount of fuel teams in the final session burn off.

It doesn't really look good when the sport is trying to promote environmentalism while they have cars cruising around burning off fuel.

[EIR Loe.307]

I think 3 10 min. sessions with some kind of mixed running order where it's fair run with whatever tire/fuel combo you want would be good. Not as much a show for the fans though. You'd take the fastest lap overall also.

(This wasn't thought out much :rolleyes:)

[Harakimi]

This type of qualification took place when FIA decided that it would be more intersting for the race if mistakes are made in qually. Few years ago everyone was given 12 laps to get the time, and back the we could see who really is the fastest.

I do think that this change is a +++ thing to quallys.
I just wish the 12 lap (or such) system to come back and at the same time make and end to this modern (95-2006ish)era of quallys...

[Radar]

The way I would want to see qualifying is for the first two sessions to be 15 minutes with the final round a low fuel one lap shootout.

I don't see how the proposed changes are going to make things more enjoyable to watch.

[EIR Loe.307]

It doesn't say anything about how the fuel will be. I don't know if it's whatever fuel you want of if it's like before with race load.

[hk77]

for some reason it sound like it is not going to work out :banghead:

they should just keep the current format and focus on something else which is of more importance like engine development maybe:o or instead of cost cutting, they ought to redistribute money to the teams in a more generous way.

[NetOz]

why they just dont put the 12 laps again to the qualify???

Its easy to undesrtand and is not boring

[Super Aguri]

I wish the FIA would just make up their minds about how the Qualifying Sessions should be now.

It is getting ridiculous at the amount of times they have changed the rules over the past few years. :rolleyes:

[EIR Loe.307]

I like the current format but agree that the final session should be shorter and that the fuel burn is a HUGE waste of fuel and creates unneeded pollution. A 10 min session with the same rules as q1 and q2 would be fine for me. No need for fuel burn down etc.

I had thought that a system of 3 sessions divided up where the top teams go first, mid packs next and backmarkers last in q1, then in q2 put the backmarkers first, the top teams second and the mid packers up last. then in q3 the midpackers first, backmarkers then top teams. It distributes the time on track where there is rubber down. You could take the best 2 times and drop the lowest or just take the best time out of the 3.

The only problem I see is that no one wants to admit they are mid-pack or backmarkers. You'd have to go based on the car #'s 1-24. :lol:

[JoStream]

I just wish the 12 lap (or such) system to come back and at the same time make and end to this modern (95-2006ish)era of quallys...

I have said the exact same thing many times before. The old qualifying system was real fun. With the modern TV coverage we have you could split the screen easily into two, or four if necessary :wonder:

[CWBeattie]

I am a fan of the 12 lap sessions as well. It was like a chess match, who was going to go out first, what if weather becomes a factor. It's a shame they changed it to accomodate the person in the stands that has no idea what is going on, who is just there to see the cars go vroom! I loved the shootouts between Schumacher, and Hakkinen, they were sometimes more exciting than the race itself!

[Driverdb]

The last five minutes of the old quali sessions were absolutely great! The first fiftyfive with only a Minardi or a Tyrrell out on track wasn't that much fun though. ;)

[Harakimi]

Yep. They (Bernie and co.) didn't like that first 50 minutes the track was empty and changed the system. It's all about $$$, too bad that the result of changes ain't that good for hardcore fans. :(