F1 Qualifying - How to fix it?

F1 qualifying has been under the spotlight in the first two races of 2016. The previous system implemented in 2006 had been used without many, if any, calls for it to be changed before the start of this season.

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The teams had all agreed to use the new elimination style system this year with drivers being eliminated every 90 seconds in the second half of each the three qualifying sections.

In Australia, and again in Bahrain, the end of the each of the segments have seen more drivers in the garage than out on the circuit going hell for leather for the fastest time.

Pundits, fans and the teams themselves, who agreed on this system let’s not forget, have all called for a change.

After Melbourne, rumours were rife that we would see a return to the old system for the Bahrain race, which turned out not to be the case.

It has since been announced that last season’s qualifying format will be used from this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix onwards, but we threw it open to some of the contributors at View From Pit Lane to see what system they would use for qualifying, and here’s what they have come up with.

Paul Nicholson

@magpie5uk

I would have everyone doing a one lap shoot-out, with the top 10 going through to a second round where they all get a set of soft tyres and do as many laps as they can/like in a 20 minute session...fastest lap in that session counts.

Matt White

@MattWhiteRacing

I say let’s make the whole weekend count for something. So a driver’s fastest lap times over the three practice session are added to together and aggregated. If a driver is unable to complete a time then a nominal pre determined time would be given. The aggregate time then sets the grid for a 20 minute sprint race on the Saturday, with points being awarded for the first five finishers, five points for first, down to one for fifth. The result of that race then determines the grid for Sunday’s main event.

Col Dixon

@ColDixon78

I like the randomness factor. Draw names out of the hat for 3 qualifying groups. Two groups of seven and one group of eight. Give the 3 groups 10 minutes each. The top 3 from each group goes through to a top 10 shootout with the tenth driver going in as the fastest driver to not make it out of their group.

Mick Palmer

Two one hour sessions with 12 laps each, as was discontinued at the end of 1995. For me the problems are more related to the fact that qualifying has become an essential part of the show, by all means let it be part of the show, but not the essential part. Two hours of tweaking for the ultimate, now that is qualifying! That is Just my old man opinion of course.

Plenty of varied opinions on here then, but for now we will make do with the previous three-segment sessions that have served well for the last few years..

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