…I’d extend it thusly:
Set the tyre allocation for a weekend to exclude quali entirely, and for qualy give each driver two sets of tyres per qualy session like this based on championship standings:
1st - 3rd = C1 (Hardest)
4th - 7th = C2
8th - 11th = C3
12th - 14th = C4
15th - 17th = C5
18th - 20th = C6 (Softest)
This will give the resultant shakeup of qualy that people seem to like without feeling forced like a reverse grid.
That would definitely mix up the grid. However, I’m doubtful they will implement rules that punish performance.
With that being said, I overall liked the new tire allocation. I’m not sure it resulted in a better qualifying, but I think it resulted in more interesting strategies during the race.
I liked it too. Everyone was on a level playing field in q1, so it was easy to determine relative speed to reach other.
If the primary goal of the setup is to be more economical with tires brought, I think this could still be accomplished with the old format.
Yes we saw how everyone ran on the same tires at the same time, it personally did nothing to make FP more interesting, if anything it caused more backup of cars waiting to try and time the end just right. Less strategy, more luck. Lastly, because of this backup, it also penalizes those who do go out earlier because they have to try and finish their lap around a train.
Again, if the goal is fewer tires used then just reduce their allotment.
They should honestly just stop making it mandatory to return X amount of tyre sets after the practice sessions.
Of the 13 dry sets, teams must nominate one set that can only be used in the first 40 minutes of first practice and they must hand that set and one more set back within two hours of the end of FP1.
Two more sets go back within two hours of the end of FP2 (unless both sessions are wet or cancelled, in which case one set can be kept until the end of FP3) and another two go back within two hours of FP3.
Teams then could reuse tyre sets that have life left in them in the next practice session(s).
I know some people like unpredictable weekends because of imperfect setups, but I personally enjoy it when teams are allowed to try and perfect the car setup to get the absolute best out of the car. F1 is the (self-proclaimed) “pinnacle of motorsports” after all.
