Formula One news

Teams to decide new qualifying format?

With many modifications already in place for the 2009 season, it looks as though another one could be on the horizon regarding the much discussed qualifying format. The new idea would put an end to different fuel levels during the session, giving onlookers a better idea as to which team and driver combinations really are the quickest.

FOTA, the Formula One Teams' Association, has put forward the proposal which would involve, instead of a set number of drivers dropping out after each phase, every lap seeing one more competitor being removed from the action, Autosport has revealed. With each driver starting with the same fuel load, the first 14 laps would see the slowest car drop out each time with the final six then going on to battle for the top spot on fresh tyres and, once again, the same amount of fuel.

Formula One has had a number of changes made both between and during seasons since 2002, the last season in which we saw drivers having twelve laps at their disposal to set times over the period of an hour. 2003 saw the introduction of one-shot qualifying which took place over Friday and Saturday before being cut to Saturday only for 2004. Although this system produced some unusual grids as a result of varying grip levels throughout the session, drivers often felt the format did not present a level playing field as uncontrollable factors such as changeable weather conditions often decided results. In 2005, the unpopular aggregate system saw times from one lap on Saturday being added to those set in a second session on race day morning. F1 reverted back to a Saturday session only after just six races as, with the aggregate format, the grid would not be decided until just  three or four hours before the start of the Grand Prix.

The current knockout system made a successful first appearance in 2006, although even that has experienced minor tweaks since which include changes to the duration of the three parts as well as the removal of the "fuel burn" phase, widely viewed as pointless and unexciting. We will know whether or not the new system will be applied when FOTA meets with the FIA on December 4.

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