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[acosmichippo]

As a newcomer to F1, I've been trying to wrap my head around this, but I'm having trouble. What is the reasoning there? Most rules I can understand the reasoning behind (even if I don't agree with it).

What would happen if their qualifying time was set on wets or intermediates, but raceday was dry (or vice-versa)?

[CarBore]

In that case you can pick your tyres

[vaptin]

Reasoning, r-e-son-ing You really are new to f1

Best I can think of is to try and recreate the different qualifying strategies that we had when cars had to use the fuel they qualified on for the race (when refuelling was allowed mid-race).

The soft tyres are the fastest, and I guess they were hoping for some contrary strategy where a driver sets their fastest lap on the harder set of tyres, hoping it will pay off in the race as on that set they'll run longer without pitting (hopefully) and won't lose grip as quickly.

It never really worked that way last year, only those who knew they'd finish at the back of the top 10 shootout would go on the harder tyres. For everyone else, it just worked better to get the higher qualifying position.

[acosmichippo]

I don't get that either... What's the advantage to qualifying with harder tires?

[vaptin]

I don't get that either... What's the advantage to qualifying with harder tires?

The idea is you'll pit later than those in front, as long as you keep in check of the time for a pitstop (about 25secs) of the driver starting ahead of you, once he pits, you can speed up and make up time on him whilst he comes out of the pitstop in traffic, then when you pit you come out ahead of him.

Doesn't really work out though, I think the main reason it would be done is for a team worried about those outside the top 10 starting on harder tyres and leapfrogging them.

[acosmichippo]

Oh, I thought you said the cars outside the top ten used the hard tires. Are you saying they qualified on softs, then elected to start the race on hard?

[killem2]

What happens is, those who make it to q10, have to start the race on the last set of tires they used to set their fastest flying lap.

It can be soft or hard but it has to be THOSE tires when they get on the grid.

To clarify again, lets say they have three sets of soft tires, A B C.

They make a flying lap on set A.

When the grid starts they have to use set A, they can't go back and use B or C just because they are the same compound. The reasoning from what I can gather is to give those who fell out of Q3 a chance to blitz the first few laps.

[acosmichippo]

Yeah, i understand the rule itself... just not why it exists.

I guess it's just to narrow the field a bit, like you mentioned.

[vaptin]

Oh, I thought you said the cars outside the top ten used the hard tires. Are you saying they qualified on softs, then elected to start the race on hard?

Yeah.

[killem2]

Why? Oh god who knows. Im still new to this sport and I don't know why they do half the s*** they do LOL

[vaptin]

The rule doesn't make a lot of sense, like I said - its to try and introduce strategy options in qualifying, doesn't really make a lot of difference. I was just trying to show what those options might be.

I'll let someone else take over

[scotty]

The rule doesn't make a lot of sense, like I said - its to try and introduce strategy options in qualifying

In many ways it is this, but i think it's more to limit race strategy for the top 10 and introduce an element of unpredictability, in that someone starting outside the top 10 can run the entire race on an optimal strategy and not have a 'compromised' first stint, allowing them to potentially get in the mix towards the front in the race rather than just allowing those who qualified further up to simply run away in the race. I don't think this applies to those who qualify right at the front, however, due to their natural pace advantage.

[killem2]

Which I feel is canceled by having to stop at least once.

[madbrad]

Most rules are brought about to improve the spectacle.
I think the cars capable of pole will almost always go for pole and use the soft tires in Q3 and deal with the pit strategy later. So they will have a short first stint, and there's the spectacle. Shakes up the order and well I think the rulemakers wanted to stop people from running away with the race from the start. We know that didn't work in Austrailia. And if just one of those top cars happens to be on hard tires at the start, then there's another variable, therefor spectacle.
The standing start is one of my favourite ways of shaking it up. Anything can happen in the first turn. Your position coming out of turn one has a decent chance of being different from what it was on the grid. A rolling start drastically reduces that chance. People deride F1 for its standing start, but I love it! sorry to get off topic.

[acosmichippo]

The standing start is one of my favourite ways of shaking it up. Anything can happen in the first turn. Your position coming out of turn one has a decent chance of being different from what it was on the grid. A rolling start drastically reduces that chance. People deride F1 for its standing start, but I love it! sorry to get off topic.

I agree with that. The start is definitely the most action-packed part of the race. Almost TOO action-packed since it's impossible to watch everyone at the same time.