The implementation of the new Qualifications format: the hiccup

The Qualifications underwent a real overhaul at the start of this season. To spread the suspense over the duration of the three sessions and to see the cars on track more often, the elimination now takes place at regular intervals during Q1, Q2, and Q3, every 90 seconds, after a set time based on the length of each session.

First #Quali session of coming soon

0600 UK
0700 CET
1700 Local

Here’s another look at the new format#AusGP pic.twitter.com/nud28oi32b

— Formula 1 (@F1) March 19, /f1/actualite/20782-qualifications-australie-la-q3-part-en-quenouille-hamilton-poleman-.html

The reminder of the facts.

Faced with this system, some teams naturally lacked optimization at the time of the first implementation. With such a procedure, it was necessary to be in the right place at the right time. As early as Q1, teams were caught out in terms of strategy.

For the first Qualifying session in its history, the Haas team seemed to operate as if under the old system, with Romain Grosjean and Esteban Gutierrez pushing full throttle in their attempt… even though they had already fallen under the elimination rule! Surprisingly, the Red Bull team, a four-time World Champion, was also unable to send Daniil Kvyat out in time. Unfortunately, the Russian had to step out of the car without even being able to defend his chances.

But the heart of the problem with this new system lay in the unfolding of Q3. Everything actually hinged on the first stint of the drivers, during the first six minutes of the session. Given the lifespan of the Pirelli tires, the drivers had to return to the pits after three laps anyway to fit a new set of tires, as performance was no longer there.

However, the clock kept ticking, eliminating the drivers one by one… from their garages, without even giving them a chance to improve anything! The allotted 90-second interval between each elimination was actually too short to get back on track and set a new time.

The final blow was delivered by the Ferrari team, which did not send its two drivers back on track for a second stint. In the end, only the two Mercedes cars remained on track… with seven minutes left, while four other cars could still run! Two minutes from the end, the two Mercedes were already back in Parc Fermé, Lewis Hamilton could put on a show in the pit lane, while everyone was waiting on the 5.303 kilometers of the circuit.

Reactions of the actors: between anger, frustration, and disappointment.

The frustration was great at the time of the post-session reactions. In the heat of the moment, Romain Grosjean didn’t hide his anger on Canal+ microphone: “I hate the new format! I got eliminated even though I was ahead of my time in the last flying lap. It’s not pleasant for us in the car.” Even the placid Kimi Räikkönen admitted that this very strange end of the Qualifications “was hardly exciting for a first session of a season.”

In this perspective, Christian Horner is keen to apologize to the fans. This circus was also not to the liking of Formula 1’s financial mastermind. Absent in Melbourne, Bernie Ecclestone nevertheless followed the session. Confiding just moments after Lewis Hamilton’s 50th career Pole Position, Mr. E considered that this new qualifying format was “absolutely useless. I watched the session but I have to say I wasn’t thrilled with this format as soon as it was introduced.” Sarcastically, he even added: “The only interesting thing about this format is that it can more easily eliminate fast cars, or allow ill-intentioned drivers to create confusion.”

« Above all, we must apologize for this sad spectacle. What we saw today is not good for Formula 1. » The same sentiment from Niki Lauda, who believes this decision (to change the Qualifying system) is the worst ever made in Formula 1!

“People can make mistakes. This [qualifying] is a big mistake.” – Niki Lauda. #AusGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/0bAwZ8h9VR

— Mobil 1 The Grid (@grid1tv) March 19, /f1/actualite/20782-qualifications-australie-la-q3-part-en-quenouille-hamilton-poleman-.html

Beyond the disappointment, it was even a sense of inevitability that dominated among most of the drivers, led by Sebastian Vettel: « I don’t see why everyone is surprised. We knew what was going to happen with such a system. It happened. I don’t think it’s very exciting, especially for the people in the stands. They want to see the drivers push to their limits at the end of the session, right when the track conditions are most interesting. »

Opinions were unanimous in decrying this new system, even from those no longer directly involved in the sport, such as Alain Prost.

Nouveau format de qualifs #F1 horrible. Personne ne pense à ce qui est bon pour la F1

— Alain Prost (@Prost_official) 19 mars

As an initial assessment: there is therefore a fire in the Formula 1 house. Despite more widespread intensity on the track in Q1 and Q2, the drivers paradoxically have fewer tricks up their sleeves to improve their performances, quickly caught by the relentless 90-second selection.

The paradox is immense: a new format supposedly innovative was hastily adopted even though it is not suited to the current Formula 1, particularly with the tire specifications imposed on the fragile Pirelli.

Beyond the positive or negative prospects of such a system, we are entitled to ask ourselves: how did we get here?