Reverse Grid Qualifying

[Nitrodaze]

There is some talk about introducing reverse grid qualifying for those tracks hosting two races this season. Redbull seem keen on it but Mercedes not so much.

While on the surface it kind of looks like it may be interesting seeing the big teams fight their way from the back of the grid to podium positions, and that it would introduce different winners each weekend. Maybe, also give the midfield teams a chance to win a race this season. F2 has shown that it can be punitive to success. especially since overtaking can be difficult on some tracks, with Masi's gloves off racing in the mix as well.

I do buy the idea that this sort of season is ideal for experimenting to spice up the racing. That said, l have never liked the reverse grid idea, it is too artificial. Winning races under assistance of these conditions do not hold much gravitas with me.

What do you think about it?
[NOTE] And ignore the roaches in the site at the moment.

[mr_swiss]

What would prevent anyone from going as slow as possible?
Doesn't make sense, just another gimmick trying to get a few extra viewers.

Dan Weldon comes to mind, placed at the back of the grid and promised 1million $ (not sure about the amount) if he wins the race. We all know how that ended.

[The Black Knight]

This idea has been touted for years since cirqua 2007 by Bernie. It was a stupid idea back then and remains a stupid idea now. Thankfully Mercedes have sense and blocked it.

[Bagwan]

This idea has been touted for years since cirqua 2007 by Bernie. It was a stupid idea back then and remains a stupid idea now. Thankfully Mercedes have sense and blocked it.

Amen .

[Jag_Warrior]

What do you think about it?

[NOTE] And ignore the roaches in the site at the moment.

I'm firmly opposed to it.

Roaches: It's getting harder and harder. Mark needs to let us help.

[N. Jones]

I don't think there is much support for this. Sounds interesting but I like qualy the way it is.

[Jag_Warrior]

I watched a Sky F1 interview with Brundle and Toto last night. Apparently it has to be a unanimous decision and Mercedes is opposed. So hopefully this idea will disappear forever. IMO, we have enough gimmicks as it is.

[lmmjvss]

Blame the "new owners" that are trying to please the "new fans" that instead of watching F2 and Indycars they "want F1 to be more like F2 and Indycars".
Im gonna be honest tho. F1 lost me 2012 because it was too lame with non-refueling giant cars, DRS, those Pirelli tires and with the V6 Hybrid engines on the horizon.... BUT making it more "casual" JUST TO PLeASe these new "casual fans" that only watch the 5min highlights on youtube WHILe talking to someone on facebook pffff Its going to get nowhere, IMO

[zako85]

I have even better idea. Feed the ranking order from qualifying into a random number generator. That's going to make things even more exciting! Finally the age of casino racing is here.

PS: it will sure be really exciting to see how Mercedes and Ferrari overtake Sauber, Williams, and Racing Point. While at it, let's add that fake rain to the race track as Ecclestone was proposing a while ago.

[mr_swiss]

I have even better idea. Feed the ranking order from qualifying into a random number generator. That's going to make things even more exciting! Finally the age of casino racing is here.

PS: it will sure be really exciting to see how Mercedes and Ferrari overtake Sauber, Williams, and Racing Point. While at it, let's add that fake rain to the race track as Ecclestone was proposing a while ago.

Why stop there?
have a raffle for who gets what car, which race engineer, every car needs to race each tire compound during the race, ....

[Jag_Warrior]

Why stop there?
have a raffle for who gets what car, which race engineer, every car needs to race each tire compound during the race, ....

There was an opinion piece on a race site a couple of years ago that proposed that each team should have to offer up one of its cars, in each race, to a female driver - I guess chosen by the FIA. Each team driver would lose his seat to a female driver every other race, as this person described the scheme. So every other race, let's say Lewis would lose his seat to say Danica, then Milka Duno, then whomever. As best I can recall, the female drivers would rotate through the teams, so that if there was a good one (or a bad one), she wouldn't be locked into any one team. So I guess that would be sort of a raffle system.

Yeah, I hate gimmicks too.

[Nitrodaze]

There was an opinion piece on a race site a couple of years ago that proposed that each team should have to offer up one of its cars, in each race, to a female driver - I guess chosen by the FIA. Each team driver would lose his seat to a female driver every other race, as this person described the scheme. So every other race, let's say Lewis would lose his seat to say Danica, then Milka Duno, then whomever. As best I can recall, the female drivers would rotate through the teams, so that if there was a good one (or a bad one), she wouldn't be locked into any one team. So I guess that would be sort of a raffle system.

Yeah, I hate gimmicks too.

I like the idea in principle, but in practise, it is not workable. Firstly, most teams would not like a driver taking their secrets to another team. Secondly, the driving steering in each car is so different between the teams, she would need a full six months to learn all of them and then to remember which is which while driving the cars. Finally, this sort of rotation would impact the championship too much to be acceptable by the big teams. They would not stand for it.

It may probably work better if each team were to have a driver each from the WSeries which the FIA can put in any of the two cars of each team as a handicap measure. It would be up to the team to find themselves the best female driver for their team and to nominate which car to apply the handicap.

That way they can have their best driver with more points in the car for all races and apply the handicap to the second car with the driver with lesser points. If they pick their female driver well, she should be able to achieve at least 60% of the points of the second driver.

Even this format would play havoc on the constructors championship, but the driver's championship may be unaffected; mind you, not taking into account DNFs, penalties and and the unavailability of the leading driver, e.g. due to illness etc.

But it would also rule out the chances of the second driver to have an equal opportunity as the leading driver. This could mean for instance that if Hamilton had a bad start to such a season, he could find himself out of contention for the title if Bottas managed to have a good early start and built enough lead to deflect any handicap to the Hamilton car.

You can see how this would weave a different story of who is the best driver of this sort of season.