So what do you think of the new qualifying

[Ed]

After watching the first qualifying sessions in the new format, what are your thoughts ? Was it interesting, exciting, confusing ?

We actually found it exciting (despite earlier reservations) especially the final session which almost feels like a mini-race but it remains confusing to the fans because of the 3rd session being run with race fuel (just like last season). TV coverage would be hard to follow because you can't see 3 drivers on hot laps at the same time (but that was similar with the old 12 lap format).
Running the final session on low fuel would make this new format a success. Otherwise it remains confusing but more exciting than the single lap qualifying of last year.

The non stop action for most of the three sessions is good although Friday practice suffered because of that.

Your thoughts ?

[Snowy]

I would like to say perfect but I don't think it will work at every circuit. Some of the tighter circuits will suffer from traffic affected and skewed grids. And I really resent not having a Sunday morning warm up

Kimi is suffering from not having access to the spare car, it doesn't seem fair to me. What happens when you leave the pits with 3mins to go and your flying lap is sabotaged by the guy who's currently on pole breaking down on the entry to the last bend?

The format of F1 qualifying was perfect in 1994 why not go back to that?

[Southernman]

First of all, I like to say the it's good to watch qualifying now that Sky has the rights to F1 tv coverage. It's something I've never watched before.

The changes that I would make to it are that the drivers should be allowed to race on low fuel in the last qualifying round.

[Snowy]

First of all, I like to say the it's good to watch qualifying now that Sky has the rights to F1 tv coverage. It's something I've never watched before.

The changes that I would make to it are that the drivers should be allowed to race on low fuel in the last qualifying round.

Good call.

But tell me Southernman where do you live that you haven't been able to watch qualifying?

And I am more than a little concerned that Sky has nabbed the coverage wherever you are. I hate Sky:evil: they have bought up all the sports rights in the UK we can't even watch the Cricket and 'that is' as they say in Blighty 'not cricket'

[Southernman]

Hello Snowy.

Before this year TVNZ had the F1 coverage and they never showed it.

Sky has the rights to cricket, rugby union, English football etc. Most people here accept it that if you want to watch sport now you have to pay for it.

[Snowy]

Hello Snowy.

Before this year TVNZ had the F1 coverage and they never showed it.

Sky has the rights to cricket, rugby union, English football etc. Most people here accept it that if you want to watch sport now you have to pay for it.

That is appalling

When I first started watching F1 in earnest back in '92 Eurosport covered F1 and they had the most remarkable coverage of any sport I have ever seen. They televised every single F1 practice session, qualifying session and race and repeated the race over and over until they were sure everybody had seen it. Then they began their indepth analysis! Which lasted all week. When ITV got hold of the rights for the UK they barged Eurosport out of the way and now we have to make do with mere morsals and incomplete data and qualifying shown late in the evening long after you know what has happened. Oh and adverts! This is all because nobody in broadcasting has ever bothered to take an interest in anything other than their hair and money

So I feel your pain Southernman

[JayVee]

Qualifying with race fuel is no good

[Snowy]

Qualifying with race fuel is no good

Amen.

[Julian Mayo]

I don't mind the new format.
The dearth of action on Friday has already been solved by Sir Frank.......turn it into an officail test day.

[Jim Watt]

generally agree, chaps (and mesdames, aussi) that qualification session is more fun to watch and, like virtual reality, finally empty of [any] signficance.

Well, it has significance insofar as it affects the starting grid and therefore the beginning of the race. For circuits that are difficult to overtake on (Monaco anyone?) it will probably affect the outcome. If you are rooting for Fernando or Kimi or Michael and your man, owing to the rolling dice in the qualys, is disadvantaged, it will make the race more exciting and fun for you IF YOUR MAN ISN'T SIMPLY MADE IRRELEVANT BY SLOWER BACKMARKERS AND BLOCKERS!!

But, as I remarked somewhere else, we're stuck with it because it sells product and gets the sponsors air time they pay for.

What's really funny is that what are called "qualifications" and are soberly discussed as though they actually "qualified" (AND DISqualified!) drivers and machines, in fact signally fail to do what they're supposed to do. Instead, they merely entertain. Kind of like elections which have also been turned into entertainments by T.V.

Is this some kind of theme developing before our eyes? Hey, somebody, I smell a book deal lurking in the background here. I even have a title for you: Television: The RoundAbout Ritual.

On the other hand, this kind of nonsense does favor the more canny drivers. If they're the kind you most like to watch. As for me, I am more of an old timer. I like racing drivers. You know, the ones who like going fast and beating everyone else to the finish line. Not the points punters who think its all about the WDC and the record book.

But this is petty of me. We have at least FOUR contenders; maybe FIVE. I'm in heaven.

Jim Watt

[Julian Mayo]

generally agree, chaps (and mesdames, aussi) that qualification session is more fun to watch and, like virtual reality, finally empty of [any] signficance.

Well, it has significance insofar as it affects the starting grid and therefore the beginning of the race. For circuits that are difficult to overtake on (Monaco anyone?) it will probably affect the outcome. If you are rooting for Fernando or Kimi or Michael and your man, owing to the rolling dice in the qualys, is disadvantaged, it will make the race more exciting and fun for you IF YOUR MAN ISN'T SIMPLY MADE IRRELEVANT BY SLOWER BACKMARKERS AND BLOCKERS!!

But, as I remarked somewhere else, we're stuck with it because it sells product and gets the sponsors air time they pay for.

What's really funny is that what are called "qualifications" and are soberly discussed as though they actually "qualified" (AND DISqualified!) drivers and machines, in fact signally fail to do what they're supposed to do. Instead, they merely entertain. Kind of like elections which have also been turned into entertainments by T.V.

Is this some kind of theme developing before our eyes? Hey, somebody, I smell a book deal lurking in the background here. I even have a title for you: Television: The RoundAbout Ritual.

On the other hand, this kind of nonsense does favor the more canny drivers. If they're the kind you most like to watch. As for me, I am more of an old timer. I like racing drivers. You know, the ones who like going fast and beating everyone else to the finish line. Not the points punters who think its all about the WDC and the record book.

But this is petty of me. We have at least FOUR contenders; maybe FIVE. I'm in heaven.

Jim Watt

So Aussies, are, according to your post, neither Chaps nor Mesdames,

Jim, F1 has to entertain.
It is up against Nascacar, V8 Supercars, DTM, etc all of which have a deeper viewer penetration in their home countries. One day Mad Max's successor T-K will get it right, and you and I will fall out of our rocking chairs with excitement, as Nico Rossberg's daughter takes pole by a bees whisker, at the Allsports stadium in Tibet. She is beaten inti third in the race by Dannica Webber the third, and taking top step on the podium is,,,,,, Froggy Mayo !

[Snowy]

So Aussies, are, according to your post, neither Chaps nor Mesdames,

Mmm controversial but I've always had my suspicions

Jim, F1 has to entertain.
It is up against Nascacar, V8 Supercars, DTM, etc all of which have a deeper viewer penetration in their home countries. One day Mad Max's successor T-K will get it right, and you and I will fall out of our rocking chairs with excitement, as Nico Rossberg's daughter takes pole by a bees whisker, at the Allsports stadium in Tibet. She is beaten inti third in the race by Dannica Webber the third, and taking top step on the podium is,,,,,, Froggy Mayo !

Greedy pathetic eejits they have huge markets around the globe, have audiences in the 10's of millions and are still not content.

We have to conquer the American market otherwise we're not the biggist and the greatest

But they only want cars that can go round and round in circles

Then that's what we'll give them

But the manufacturers won't have it Max

We'll give them no option, we'll ditch them (they will of course think they have ditched us)

[Jim Watt]

My Dear Chaps and Mesdames:

I certainly do include Aussies in these classes (ie. Gentlemen & Ladies)

I must put the immediate kibosh on notion that I am anti Aussie. "Aussie" and "aussi" are NOT SAME words. Alas, I was only attempting sophisticated repartee when I said "mesdames aussi" or French (Froggy) for "ladies also"...

I hope all my Aussie friends will understand that any and all remarks about the Webbo are no more an attack on them and their loyalty to their own than are my sometimes slighting sounding remarks re: J.B. or D.C. are to be construed as anti-Brit.

In fact, Jack Brabham (WDC 59,60 & 66) & Aussie along with Jim Clark & Mike Hawthorne (both Brits!) are way up there in my own Hall of Heroes! Right along with Sterling Moss & Peter Collins (neither are WDC winners, but both are true champions!

Now if I can just figure out my picks for next sunday. Fool that I am, I thought I had to wait till Melborne for the next race. I log on today and discover that they snuck Maylasia in there.

Is Noah in charge again? If so there may well be a wrecking derby in the Second Session!

Jim Watt

[grum00]

Definitely better than 05 but I still think the top ten shootout should still be on low fuel. I can understand why they did it though because now there are cars running around for the whole 20mins. If you made it low fuel than they would most likely only come out at the end. This is mainly because they can't do too many runs because they need to save sets of tyres. They would probably need a larger allocation of new tyres to allow them to do more runs in the 20mins of it was on low fuel.

Anyway, are any other aussies here a bit annoyed that Channel 10 aren't going to show quali for any of the other races. Tease my by showing the first quali and then take it away.

[Julian Mayo]

Yup, Ch ten sucks with F1, but it is better tratment than we got from Ch 9