New qualifying system next year

[Vaigra]

Another change to the qualifying system.

Originally Posted by Planet-f1.com

F1 to adopt a new format and look

Formula One has agreed on a new qualifying system for next season, as well as a radical change in how the cars will look in 2007.
At a meeting of the Formula One commission in London on Monday, the sport's key players approved a qualifying format devised by commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone.

Next season, qualifying will be split into three sessions, with the slowest five cars being eliminated after each of the first two 15-minute affairs. That would leave 10 cars to fight it out for pole position in the final 20-minute session.

As well as the relatively straightforward process of agreeing on a change to qualifying, the commission also addressed proposals from Max Mosley, president of world governing body the FIA.

Mosley received sufficient - but far from unanimous - support for his plan to re-introduce tyre changes next season, one year after he forced teams to qualify and race on the same rubber.

The most radical proposal only emerged on Monday morning but Mosley's plan to introduce a new rear wing was approved and slated for introduction in 2007, subject to consultation with technical directors.

The FIA have devised a split rear wing concept which places separate wings above the rear tyres, leaving a gap where a traditional rear wing would sit.

Their research suggests the new system will make overtaking significantly easier, by removing the problem of 'dirty air', which currently works against cars travelling closely behind others.

Mosley said: "This new research is important for the future of Formula One. By introducing the wing we can give motor sport fans exactly what they have asked for, wheel-to-wheel racing with much more overtaking."

Although the new wing concept was put forward as part of a 2008 rules package, the Formula One commission agreed to its introduction a year early.

Hmm, not sure where I stand on this idea yet. The number of changes to qualifying recently has been farcical. The more constant changes that take place, the less chance we'll have of attracting new viewers due to constant rule changes leaving people behind.
If all three sessions are like the qualifying we used to have, where everybody came out together and raced each other, I look forward to it.

[Wouter Melissen]

Originally Posted by Vaigra

If all three sessions are like the qualifying we used to have, where everybody came out together and raced each other, I look forward to it.

It's like the old qualifying, but the knock-out system ensures that there will be activity throughout the session instead of the last few minutes. The FIA should be commended for looking into changing what was generally accepted a boring situation (the one hour / 12 lap setup). They gave it a shot with the one-lap deal that looked good on paper because every competitor was given air-time, but was not particularly interesting because it's hard to distinguish a good lap from a bad one. This new setup could be very good with action the entire session and with only the ten fastest out in the last section there won't be the traffic complaints of the original setup.

[Vaigra]

I see where you're coming from. The 1hr/12lap setup had spectators sitting there, waiting for the cars to comeout in the last 10 minutes or so with 50 mins of commentary and backmarkers.
Looks like the FIA is finally doing something right, what with the new wing too.

[Wouter Melissen]

Originally Posted by Vaigra

Looks like the FIA is finally doing something right, what with the new wing too.

The FIA is in a difficult position. The conservative nature of people combined with an unstoppable need to complain about the current situation makes it very hard to change or continue with something. The FIA is always trying to make the best decisions for the sport, they have no other interest. Take for example the radically improved safety measures after the dreadful 1994 Imola weekend. The chances of a fatal crash have been decreased due to the improvements made to cars and tracks as per FIA directions. The only recent changes I don't get are qualifying with race fuel and no tire changes, but I believe tires can be changed again in 2006.

[Vaigra]

Originally Posted by Wouter Melissen

The FIA is in a difficult position. The conservative nature of people combined with an unstoppable need to complain about the current situation makes it very hard to change or continue with something. The FIA is always trying to make the best decisions for the sport, they have no other interest. Take for example the radically improved safety measures after the dreadful 1994 Imola weekend. The chances of a fatal crash have been decreased due to the improvements made to cars and tracks as per FIA directions. The only recent changes I don't get are qualifying with race fuel and no tire changes, but I believe tires can be changed again in 2006.

I'm not sure on the tyre change scenario for next year. There are talks about it but I don't think there's been a final decision yet.

Originally Posted by planet-f1.com

Mosley received sufficient - but far from unanimous - support for his plan to re-introduce tyre changes next season, one year after he forced teams to qualify and race on the same rubber.

Actually reading that again, it seems you're right, tyre changes are back in.

[Vaigra]

ok, officially from formula1.com

Originally Posted by Formula1.com

Knockout qualifying for 2006
Plus tyre changes to return during the race

An exciting new qualifying format will be used to determine the starting grid at Grands Prix next season. The ‘knockout’ system - the preferred choice in a poll of over 150,000 formula1.com users earlier this year - will replace the existing single-lap format.

Following approval from the FIA World Motor Sport Council on the Wednesday, the one-hour qualifying session on Saturdays will now be split into three distinct parts, each with multiple drivers on track simultaneously, and each with the drivers running as many laps as they want:

Part one: All 20 cars may run laps at any time during the first 15 minutes of the hour. At the end of the first 15 minutes, the five slowest cars drop out and fill the final five grid places.

Part two: After a five-minute break, the times will be reset and the 15 remaining cars then will then run in a second 15-minute session - again they may complete as many laps as they want at any time during that period. At the end of the 15 minutes, the five slowest cars drop out and fill places 11 to 15 on the grid.

Part three: After another five-minute break, the times are reset and the final 20-minute session will feature a dramatic shootout between the remaining 10 cars to decide pole position and the starting order for the top 10 grid places. Again, these cars may run as many laps as they wish.

As an added twist, an element of suspense and pit strategy remains entwined in the new format. In the first two 15-minute sessions, cars may run any fuel load and drivers knocked out after those sessions may refuel ahead of the race.

However, the top-ten drivers must begin the final 20-minute session with the fuel load on which they plan to start the race. They will be weighed before they leave the pits, and whatever fuel they use in the 20 minutes may be replaced at the end of the session.

In other changes approved by the Council for 2006, the rule limiting a driver to a single set of tyres for qualifying and the race will be dropped. Tyre changes will be allowed during the race, though drivers will be limited to seven sets of dry-weather tyres during the weekend. Tyres used in qualifying and the race must be of the same specification.

The Council also approved a package of measures for the 2008 season. These include the introduction of the FIA's Centreline Downwash Generating wing, larger wheels with slick tyres and a single tyre supplier. The package will be brought forward to 2007 if an 80 percent majority of the Formula One Technical Working Group agree to do so before the end of December 2005.

[samson]

In the DTM they have a system where the first half hour decides the positions from 11 upwards, before they have a one lap per driver shootout for the top 10 places. This system seems quite similar, and apparently is quite entertaining. Hopefully the F1 system will be, particularly as the cars will be doing more than 1 flying lap, unlike this year.