Watching different qualifying sessions the question came up to me why do they wait so long? All of them!
Could it be that the faster teams are waiting for rubber put down on the track by the slower teams and that the slower teams wait because they hope competition get stuck in traffic?
Why wait so long in qualifying?
Started by
No27
, Jul 23 2001 17:10
9 replies to this topic
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#2
Smooth
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Posted 23 July 2001 - 17:12
Track temp comes up, rubber gets layed down, and many look for a cloud to drop the ambient air temp a bit to get that extra .0000005 hp!
(Plus it lets the Minardi's and Villenueve get a bit of TV time).;)
(Plus it lets the Minardi's and Villenueve get a bit of TV time).;)
#3
Captain Cook
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Posted 23 July 2001 - 18:12
Originally posted by Smooth
Track temp comes up, rubber gets layed down, and many look for a cloud to drop the ambient air temp a bit to get that extra .0000005 hp!
Many a qualifying session has been comprimised (for a particular driver) as they have left it too late. Why do drivers get the trade off of track conditions v track population (possible impediment) wrong so often?
That is where the competitve factor comes in. Qualifying is like a series of duels. Michael Schumacher is usually the last to come on track as he has the confidence to do so.
I guess I am simply adding another figure to Smooth's list except this time its a - as opposed to a +.
#4
bigblue
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Posted 23 July 2001 - 21:02
I agree that the lack of cars on the track would likely negate the extra power from a cloud. What do I know!
#5
Garagiste
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Posted 24 July 2001 - 09:55
I've heard this one as a reason several times:
No, it doesn't. There is nobody on the track!
How is waiting half an hour after the one Minardi has been out any different to five minutes after it? I wish they would just get on with it, get a banker lap in and add your own rubber to the surface.
rubber gets layed down
No, it doesn't. There is nobody on the track!
How is waiting half an hour after the one Minardi has been out any different to five minutes after it? I wish they would just get on with it, get a banker lap in and add your own rubber to the surface.
#6
BRG
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Posted 24 July 2001 - 12:10
I agree with Garagiste. There is too much "follow your leader" thinking in F1. Look at Silverstone - everyone poured out with two minutes to go and at least half of them were baulked and wasted their laps. Far better to get straight out and then space out your runs over the whole session. Sometimes, teams end up not even using all their laps - how does that help them 
Far better to re-structure qualifying so that each driver has a separate qualifying run. No baulking,and continuous action - far better for the spectators and the TV audience.
Far better to re-structure qualifying so that each driver has a separate qualifying run. No baulking,and continuous action - far better for the spectators and the TV audience.
#7
Jaybee
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Posted 24 July 2001 - 12:26
The reason given by the likes of Martin Brundle is that the 'faster' teams wait for the 'slower' teams to clear the dirt off the track (no mention of rubber) As the track has been used during 2 periods on the Friday and 1 session on the Saturday already it must get twice as dirty as my son's bedroom in a quarter of the time!!! I think it is the old game of playing chicken, holding the nerve whatever you call it. Even the blessed Michael has been known to get it wrong on occasion but his record is better than most. As the commentators so poetically put it 'finding the sweet spot' is what its all about. Whether it is an acceptable beef by spectators that they may only get 30 mins to watch the cars is a moot point. They should still see 22 cars doing at least 9 laps each in however long it lasts and thats quality - not quantity.
#8
bigblue
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Posted 24 July 2001 - 12:37
I would still like to see them get rid of the 12 lap limit. Keep everything else the same but allow unlimited laps. I think that would spice it up a bit.
#9
Captain Cook
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Posted 24 July 2001 - 12:45
Originally posted by bigblue
I would still like to see them get rid of the 12 lap limit. Keep everything else the same but allow unlimited laps. I think that would spice it up a bit.
I don't think that would help. Increasing the number of tyres available for the qualifying session might.
#10
olschak
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Posted 24 July 2001 - 16:02
the only thing that would help if the tv stations no longer showed drivers waiting in their cars. without tv-coverage no sponsor money and no multi-million salary. f1 still is entertainment. hats off to jean alesi for burning tires.
the last three gps i visited myself i deliberately avoided coming to the first 20 minutes of the qualying session. why end up in the big f1 traffic jam only too see absolutely nothing at all.
just in case mika hakkinen reads this: the championship is gone but the fans are still here - so drive out the first minute of qualifying and do something!
i do believe there are good technical reasons for f1 teams to wait in qualifying. my technical answer is to turn the tv off.
by the way - during the Nürburgring GP i saw a couple of A10 aircraft up in the air, probably USAF. if nothing happens on track why not shoot the pitlane to pieces?
the last three gps i visited myself i deliberately avoided coming to the first 20 minutes of the qualying session. why end up in the big f1 traffic jam only too see absolutely nothing at all.
just in case mika hakkinen reads this: the championship is gone but the fans are still here - so drive out the first minute of qualifying and do something!
i do believe there are good technical reasons for f1 teams to wait in qualifying. my technical answer is to turn the tv off.
by the way - during the Nürburgring GP i saw a couple of A10 aircraft up in the air, probably USAF. if nothing happens on track why not shoot the pitlane to pieces?
