Comments on: Why is FOTA worrying about qualifying when F1 faces far greater problems?

By: Yosu

Yosu — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 19:06:28 +0000

You don’t cover the Sun with a finger, there are far more important issues than this. Bernie’s selfish acts are ruining F1

By: DG

DG — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 11:29:56 +0000

Hang on, who is proposing the idea now if FOTA have to vote on it on 4th December?
This sounds suspicously like a Bernie or Max suggestion which will become a FOTA proposal, and be either welcomed or laughed away by FOM and the FIA depending on who suggested it first, and why.
I don’t see why any of the teams would support it any more than those commenting above. The teams would be having similar thoughts, surely?
Lets just see what happens – has this been suggested as a means to get the teams arguing and divert them away from the more urgent problems?

By: Keith Collantine

Keith Collantine — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 19:28:47 +0000

Does anyone like FOTA's idea? I've not seen much support for elsewhere, except perhaps Clive.

By: stevepCambsUK

stevepCambsUK — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 10:29:36 +0000

cars eliminated lap by lap? what a silly idea! this will lead to many problems over the whole season….. and with the stewards reaction time to incidents being so slow many drivers will loose out and many drivers will be dropped places on the grid
the answer could be to set instant penalties if a driver is blocked on a hot lap, no 30 to 40 minute debate with a cup of tea in the stewards room
i would keep the format the same but not let teams choose their fuel loads for qualifying and the actual race
x amount for Q1 and Q2 but a set amount for Q3

By: Alastair

Alastair — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 10:23:40 +0000

So if you have a scruffy lap, just one scruffy lap, you are toast. Hardly likely to be any cars on the racing line when all 22 have to be on track all at the same time… in fact, you won’t have anyone on a slow lap if somebody’s being eliminated every lap. How the heck is that going to work. Everyone will want to be on track at the same time. They’ll have to start quali off the grid!!!!

By: Chris Y

Chris Y — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 03:36:22 +0000

Gman: This is a FOTA proposal; Bernie and Max have nothing (yet) to do with it until the FIA makes a decision.

If the F2009 continues to have tyre-heating problems over 1 lap, Ferrari may not like the idea. Also, 1 spin can ruin the whole of qualifying for a driver.

By: Gman

Gman — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 03:17:51 +0000

First off, all of the comments before mine are very good and I pretty much agree with everything you all have said.

2008 was my first year of following the sport, so the current quali format is the only one I know well. I think it is just fine the way it is, except for the light/heavy fuel load deal. The only change I would make is having everyone start the race on the light fuel load, as many of you have suggested. Honestly, I don’t think changing the format will make any more people watch qualifying than they do now- the diehards will tune in while the casual fan may not.

As is the case with so many other things in F1, Bernie and Max continue to ignore the sensable old slogan of “If it ain’t broke, then don’t fix it.”

By: Pink Peril

Pink Peril — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 01:53:31 +0000

Keith = nail on head.

By: Dane

Dane — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 22:10:48 +0000

Why change anything. Qualifying works fine the way it is.

By: HounslowBusGarage

HounslowBusGarage — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 21:12:04 +0000

FOTA and Bernie are interested in making qualifying on Saturday nearly as much as a spectacle as the race on Sunday.
It’s about getting TV coverage on Saturday and pre-exposure for the race on Sunday. The perfect qualifying event would be a prang between a couple of midfield cars and a shouting match between teams on Saturday. That would create a legitimate news interest on Saturday and guarantee a larger TV audience on Sunday.
And that would result in an increase in the price of the TV rights.