- 22 Nov 10, 09:36#226793
Well, we've heard before how certain figures high up think that shorter races with reverse grids, with two races per weekend in a more GP2-style format would be a fantastic idea for the sport and that we should move in that direction. We've also heard that most people disagree; that Formula One's racing format is, for the most part, good as it is. Long races test a driver's endurance and concentration as well as their skill and the teams' strategies. I think everyone agrees that the current qualifying format is great, really exciting and is probably the best for the sport right now (certainly better than a single lap each day).
So you may be wondering why I'm posting this topic, but hear me out. For once, I think I might have had a half-decent idea.
First off, some facts:
I don't know who it was, but someone (I think on this forum) suggested staying behind at race circuits on the Monday following the grand prix, but this would add extra days on and increase costs, though I'm not saying that my own suggestion wouldn't. This would only be possible after certain races though, because there are many occasions throughout the season where there isn't time to do that, especially if the next race is the following weekend. So if not that, then what else?
I think the answer lies in Fridays. We've already seen teams, especially Force India, giving their reserve drivers a go in some of the practice sessions. It seems to have worked, for Paul di Resta at least, because the pace seems to be there. But it still doesn't give the teams as much time to thoroughly test components because they need to focus on set-up work and tyre comparisons as well. As we have seen this year, upgrades sometimes don't work as expected or simply don't work at all, which has caused several teams problems. Most recently, McLaren have been the big name suffering from that particular issue. So what is it that I propose teams do?
Now, this isn't perfect by any means. If they can't qualify on the Sunday morning, it creates an issue as they can't just leave it until the next day. I guess, under current rules at least, they'd line up in championship order or something, or perhaps take the fastest times from the second practice session as something a little bit different. The races at Singapore and Abu Dhabi might also encounter slight problems as a result. Currently, qualifying takes place under the same conditions as the race, so night at Singapore and day/night at Abu Dhabi. This would no longer be possible, at least not at the latter. At Singapore I guess the race could be made later to accommodate, but there would be no avoiding daylight qualifying at Abu Dhabi if the organisers wished to maintain the day/night aspect of the race.
There is also a potential costing issue. The larger teams would be able to afford/produce engines, gearboxes and replacement components more comfortably than the smaller ones would, which could be a bit of a problem unless some sort of deal was worked out. It would also work against the desire to reduce costs in the sport, though the intention behind the idea was more to compromise between going to scheduled tests at events outside of race weekends and not testing at all, plus it has the added benefits of ensuring that other drivers get valuable mileage in a Formula One car.
Naturally, I don't expect any of the teams to be reading this, but I just thought some of you might like to know the things I think of when I can't sleep, which at the moment seems to be all the time.
Any comments, even if they're just along the lines of "Joel, you should stick to computers", are appreciated.
So you may be wondering why I'm posting this topic, but hear me out. For once, I think I might have had a half-decent idea.
First off, some facts:
- Teams have said they would like to look at better ways of using grand prix weekends
- Both teams and drivers have complained that a lack of testing is a big hindrance to them
- Young, test and reserve drivers don't really get enough opportunity to test cars unless they are signed prior to the winter testing
- Teams and drivers admitted that qualifying on Sunday in Suzuka wasn't an inconvenience and that many of them actually liked it
I don't know who it was, but someone (I think on this forum) suggested staying behind at race circuits on the Monday following the grand prix, but this would add extra days on and increase costs, though I'm not saying that my own suggestion wouldn't. This would only be possible after certain races though, because there are many occasions throughout the season where there isn't time to do that, especially if the next race is the following weekend. So if not that, then what else?
I think the answer lies in Fridays. We've already seen teams, especially Force India, giving their reserve drivers a go in some of the practice sessions. It seems to have worked, for Paul di Resta at least, because the pace seems to be there. But it still doesn't give the teams as much time to thoroughly test components because they need to focus on set-up work and tyre comparisons as well. As we have seen this year, upgrades sometimes don't work as expected or simply don't work at all, which has caused several teams problems. Most recently, McLaren have been the big name suffering from that particular issue. So what is it that I propose teams do?
Fridays
Fridays should be reserved for testing. This could be testing of new components, testing of other drivers or a combination of both. The day would be split in to two three-hour sessions, one before lunch and one after. Teams would be required to run one driver that isn't participating in the race (unless something happens to one of the regular race drivers on the weekend) during each of these sessions. Whether that is their reserve driver, another test driver or a young driver who may or may not be in their driver development programme is up to them.
Teams would receive two sets of prime tyres and one set of option tyres per car for this session. They would not be expected to use race engines and gearboxes, so a separate allowance of maybe three per season per car could be made to cover this. Obviously, they would not be allowed to use these in any other part of the weekend and I suppose this could be controlled in the same way that engines and gearboxes are at present.
Saturdays
All practice would then be carried out on Saturdays. In order to ensure that the teams don't 'lose' any practice time (come on, you know they'll take advantage of the extra Friday running), there will be two sessions lasting two hours each. They could still run a third driver in either of these sessions as teams do now, but it would mean that they would have less of a need to do so.
Sundays
Qualifying, in its current format, would be held in the morning. The race would go on in the afternoon.
Now, this isn't perfect by any means. If they can't qualify on the Sunday morning, it creates an issue as they can't just leave it until the next day. I guess, under current rules at least, they'd line up in championship order or something, or perhaps take the fastest times from the second practice session as something a little bit different. The races at Singapore and Abu Dhabi might also encounter slight problems as a result. Currently, qualifying takes place under the same conditions as the race, so night at Singapore and day/night at Abu Dhabi. This would no longer be possible, at least not at the latter. At Singapore I guess the race could be made later to accommodate, but there would be no avoiding daylight qualifying at Abu Dhabi if the organisers wished to maintain the day/night aspect of the race.
There is also a potential costing issue. The larger teams would be able to afford/produce engines, gearboxes and replacement components more comfortably than the smaller ones would, which could be a bit of a problem unless some sort of deal was worked out. It would also work against the desire to reduce costs in the sport, though the intention behind the idea was more to compromise between going to scheduled tests at events outside of race weekends and not testing at all, plus it has the added benefits of ensuring that other drivers get valuable mileage in a Formula One car.
Naturally, I don't expect any of the teams to be reading this, but I just thought some of you might like to know the things I think of when I can't sleep, which at the moment seems to be all the time.
Any comments, even if they're just along the lines of "Joel, you should stick to computers", are appreciated.
