The qualifying format is very exciting for the fans but I think it takes away from the race. The top teams are allowed additional time to improve their times and put distance between them and the lower qualifying teams. While this isn't a big deal for the qualifying it can translate into larger gaps during the race. For instance, from Q1 to Q3 the top teams (top three I believe) reduced their lap times by about 2 seconds (give or take). Granted this is in qualifying trim I promise you some of the teams are using this as a opportunity to work on their race trim. If not they are still getting valuable data that can be applied to the race setups. I think this format contributes to reduce overtaking in the race.
I'd figure they gained far, far, far more data during the three rounds of practice, wherein they run many dozens upon dozens of laps, than they would from a few extra laps under qualifying. The extra 0.003% of data they collect from the additional qualifying running isn't detracting from what happens in the race.
I actually quite like the current qualifying format, to be honest. If they were to change it, to something like one car running their one lap and then that's it (as an example), I don't see me watching it at all.
The top teams get 1-2 seconds faster because in Q1 they use the Harder compound of tyres whilst in Q2 and Q3 they have to use the Soft compound of tyres.
This. The second or two
definitely has absolutely nothing to do with running a handful of additional laps in Q2 and Q3. Simply switching from the harder prime to the softer option tire accounts for like 1.5 seconds, give or take depending on the track.
If your beef is against the lower grid teams not being able to test and gather data, the push for additional testing. Why ruin the best qualifying format in all of auto racing?
I personally want the ban on testing lifted.
my point was i'd rather have a more exciting race than qualifying.
Alright, but qualifying isn't the problem. There's always flukes, but as a generalization the fastest guy will start out up front, the next-fastest second, third-fastest third, and so forth, with the slowest guys at the back, and you can't expect a slower guy to surge ahead and overtake the faster guys ahead of them. They can't draft their way through the pack like in NASCAR. If the slower guys want to put the fight to the faster guys up front, they need better cars, not a change in the qualifying format. The Red Bulls, McLarens, and Ferraris aren't out in front because they get to run a few more qualifying laps, but because they're the top teams with the top cars and great drivers. If you give all the cars equal numbers of qualifying laps, you'll still have Red Bulls, McLarens, and Ferraris out in front and Lotus, HRT, and Virgin at the rear.
