23/02/2016
NEWS STORY
Strategy Group proposes new qualifying format that could be in place by Melbourne.
Formula One's Strategy Group, which has come in for more than its fair share of criticism since its inception, it sure to find itself under scrutiny yet again if its proposal for a new qualifying format were to be accepted.
As the sport's powers-that-be search for ever more desperate ideas to attract fans - rather than asking them or even doing some serious research into what attracted them in the first place - the proposed new qualifying format looks sure not only to confuse but risk losing fans already sick to death of the gimmicks being constantly introduced that merely make the sport artificial.
It's understood that the new format, like the present format, would be split into three sections. However, in each of the sections after so many minutes the slowest runner would be eliminated. Then, another ninety seconds later, the next slowest runner would be eliminated.
The first session would see 7 of the 22 drivers eliminated, with the remaining 15 going through to Q2.
Q2 would essentially be run to the same format, another 7 drivers eliminated, one every ninety seconds, and the remaining 8 going through to Q3.
Again, Q3 would see the slowest driver eliminated each ninety seconds until only 2 drivers remain - these two would then fight it out for pole on the same basis, the slower of the two having to settle for second place on the grid.
Thankfully the idea has still to be approved by the World Motor Sport Council which meets next month.
If introduced, there is every possibility that the sport will continue to shed viewers, both hard core and casual, until only two of them remain.