F1 - 2004 qualifying Saturday only
Discussion
News link from Reuters
www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=3555835
Seems like Friday action will be fairly dull from next year...scrapping of the 2 hour test session....and also moving this years 1st qualifying run....to Saturdays single qualifying session.
The new engine rule ....the 3 cars for the bottom 6 teams...will surely see less tracktime than there was this year as they'll want to save their engine.
I don't know what they think they're playing at...chopping and changing the rules - they should leave well alone
www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=3555835
Seems like Friday action will be fairly dull from next year...scrapping of the 2 hour test session....and also moving this years 1st qualifying run....to Saturdays single qualifying session.
The new engine rule ....the 3 cars for the bottom 6 teams...will surely see less tracktime than there was this year as they'll want to save their engine.
I don't know what they think they're playing at...chopping and changing the rules - they should leave well alone
10 days later....and no posts on my thread....so will just reply to myself 
The Full Announcement by the FIA World Council
Wednesday October 15th, 2003
The World Motor Sport Council met in Paris on October 15, 2003. The following decisions were taken:
The 2004 Sporting Regulations will be amended as follows:
Race Weekend Schedule
Friday 11:00-12:00 Free practice Friday 14:00-15:00 Free practice
During both sessions all teams, other than those who finished in the top four positions of the previous year's World Championship for Constructors, will be permitted to run a third car provided any driver of this car:
is not one of the team's nominated drivers for the Event in question;
is in possession of a Super Licence;
has not taken place in more than six World Championship Events during the two previous World Championships.
If one of the team's nominated drivers is deemed unable to drive at some stage after the end initial scrutineering, and the stewards agree to a change of driver, the driver of a third car may take part in the remainder of the Event. Under such circumstances a driver who started the Event as a "third" driver would have to continue with the same engine for the remainder of the Event.
The requirements of Article 60 concerning car livery will not apply to the third car being used during these two sessions but will apply should this car be used as the team's spare car during the remainder of the event.
Saturday 10:00-10:45 Free practice Saturday 11:15-12:00 Free practice Saturday 14:00 Qualifying begins and will be run as follows:
the session will be held in two parts separated by two minutes;
during the first part each driver will carry out a single timed lap as now starting in the order they finished in the previous race. At the first race of the year the order of the last Event of the previous year's World Championship will be used (in both cases any new drivers will be arranged in numerical order);
any car stopping in the first part will not be allowed to take part in the second, if the car is brought back to the pits before the end of the session it must remain in parc ferme until the end of the session;
refuelling rigs will be allowed in the first part subject to everyone wearing suitable clothing and photographers being restricted as for a race;
the running order for the second part will be determined by the times achieved in the first part reversed;
cars will run with race fuel and race settings as in 2003;
in both sessions cars will be released as the previous one crosses the Line to start its flying lap;
in both sessions the 6th, 11th and 16th cars in sequence will be released two minutes after the previous finishes its flying lap;
Sunday 14:00 Race (or at other times according to the relevant schedule).
Tyre use and allocation
The number of dry-weather tyres available to each driver during the Event will remain the same at forty, twenty front and twenty rear.
Each driver will be allocated three sets of dry-weather tyres for use on Friday, these may not be used at any other time during the Event. No tyres from the remaining seven sets may be used on Friday.
The choice of dry-weather tyre for qualifying and race must be made by 09.00 on Saturday (either specification of tyre may be used for the free practice sessions on Saturday).
However, if both Friday sessions are declared wet this choice may be postponed until 13.00 on Saturday.
The number of wet-weather tyres available to each driver during the Event will remain the same at twenty-eight, fourteen front and fourteen rear.
Extreme weather tyres will continue to be permitted but, as now, may only be used when authorised.
Parc ferme procedures
To remain the same as in 2003 but the practice of fuel circulation for the purposes of cooling will now be prohibited.
Number of drivers per car
Each team will now be allowed to use four drivers during each season, not including any third driver running in the Friday sessions.
Pit lane speed limit
The speed limit for qualifying and race will be raised to 100km/h. In accordance with Article 100 (of the draft 2004 Sporting Regulations) the Permanent Bureau may be asked to consider a lower limit at tracks which have a particularly narrow pit lane.
The Full Announcement by the FIA World Council
Wednesday October 15th, 2003
The World Motor Sport Council met in Paris on October 15, 2003. The following decisions were taken:
The 2004 Sporting Regulations will be amended as follows:
Race Weekend Schedule
Friday 11:00-12:00 Free practice Friday 14:00-15:00 Free practice
During both sessions all teams, other than those who finished in the top four positions of the previous year's World Championship for Constructors, will be permitted to run a third car provided any driver of this car:
is not one of the team's nominated drivers for the Event in question;
is in possession of a Super Licence;
has not taken place in more than six World Championship Events during the two previous World Championships.
If one of the team's nominated drivers is deemed unable to drive at some stage after the end initial scrutineering, and the stewards agree to a change of driver, the driver of a third car may take part in the remainder of the Event. Under such circumstances a driver who started the Event as a "third" driver would have to continue with the same engine for the remainder of the Event.
The requirements of Article 60 concerning car livery will not apply to the third car being used during these two sessions but will apply should this car be used as the team's spare car during the remainder of the event.
Saturday 10:00-10:45 Free practice Saturday 11:15-12:00 Free practice Saturday 14:00 Qualifying begins and will be run as follows:
the session will be held in two parts separated by two minutes;
during the first part each driver will carry out a single timed lap as now starting in the order they finished in the previous race. At the first race of the year the order of the last Event of the previous year's World Championship will be used (in both cases any new drivers will be arranged in numerical order);
any car stopping in the first part will not be allowed to take part in the second, if the car is brought back to the pits before the end of the session it must remain in parc ferme until the end of the session;
refuelling rigs will be allowed in the first part subject to everyone wearing suitable clothing and photographers being restricted as for a race;
the running order for the second part will be determined by the times achieved in the first part reversed;
cars will run with race fuel and race settings as in 2003;
in both sessions cars will be released as the previous one crosses the Line to start its flying lap;
in both sessions the 6th, 11th and 16th cars in sequence will be released two minutes after the previous finishes its flying lap;
Sunday 14:00 Race (or at other times according to the relevant schedule).
Tyre use and allocation
The number of dry-weather tyres available to each driver during the Event will remain the same at forty, twenty front and twenty rear.
Each driver will be allocated three sets of dry-weather tyres for use on Friday, these may not be used at any other time during the Event. No tyres from the remaining seven sets may be used on Friday.
The choice of dry-weather tyre for qualifying and race must be made by 09.00 on Saturday (either specification of tyre may be used for the free practice sessions on Saturday).
However, if both Friday sessions are declared wet this choice may be postponed until 13.00 on Saturday.
The number of wet-weather tyres available to each driver during the Event will remain the same at twenty-eight, fourteen front and fourteen rear.
Extreme weather tyres will continue to be permitted but, as now, may only be used when authorised.
Parc ferme procedures
To remain the same as in 2003 but the practice of fuel circulation for the purposes of cooling will now be prohibited.
Number of drivers per car
Each team will now be allowed to use four drivers during each season, not including any third driver running in the Friday sessions.
Pit lane speed limit
The speed limit for qualifying and race will be raised to 100km/h. In accordance with Article 100 (of the draft 2004 Sporting Regulations) the Permanent Bureau may be asked to consider a lower limit at tracks which have a particularly narrow pit lane.
I think we were waiting for insanity to be ratified. I suppose what's done is done, but I don't understand the Bernie/Max mental processes behind all this.
Assuming the end-game is to make as much money as possible out of the F1 TV rights, they must think that an artificial format produces the best 'show' for the dimwit viewer, and on the face of it they're right.
The problem here is that the viewer is NOT the dimwit they think, be he/she an Asian, African, American or European, and the charade they have produced will quickly become obvious to everyone.
At the other end of the spectrum you have the men with the spanners - the real movers and shakers in F1 - engineers, team principals, drivers etc etc. I simply cannot understand why they have accepted the new format.
No point in going into detail, but one thing you can guarantee is a lottery. The best driver and the best team will be lucky if they win their respective championships, and if it all comes down to an expensive and colourful game of chance there will be no point in continuing - either as a participant or as a viewer.
P.S.
Spectators will be eliminated (part of the plan).
Assuming the end-game is to make as much money as possible out of the F1 TV rights, they must think that an artificial format produces the best 'show' for the dimwit viewer, and on the face of it they're right.
The problem here is that the viewer is NOT the dimwit they think, be he/she an Asian, African, American or European, and the charade they have produced will quickly become obvious to everyone.
At the other end of the spectrum you have the men with the spanners - the real movers and shakers in F1 - engineers, team principals, drivers etc etc. I simply cannot understand why they have accepted the new format.
No point in going into detail, but one thing you can guarantee is a lottery. The best driver and the best team will be lucky if they win their respective championships, and if it all comes down to an expensive and colourful game of chance there will be no point in continuing - either as a participant or as a viewer.
P.S.
Spectators will be eliminated (part of the plan).
McNab said:
At the other end of the spectrum you have the men with the spanners - the real movers and shakers in F1 - engineers, team principals, drivers etc etc. I simply cannot understand why they have accepted the new format.
Not even the journalists think it's a good idea...I think a lot of them were hoping that the 'duff' parts of the rules would be thrown out....but they haven't.
The one engine rule will make for teams having to nominate a no1 and no 2 driver. The no 2 driver will do the free practise for set-up purposes and results will be used for no 1 driver.
Very little track time now for F1 on fridays...they need to conserve the engine.....just the same for saturdays too.
The live spectator will get less F1 track time than they did this year....though the TV viewers won't miss much. I think it's a shame.
The idea behind the third car is to allow extra sponsor potential, but IMHO it misses the mark here as well. If the lower teams had the opportunity of more sponsors they would have them anyway. The only thing it will achieve is the ability of a third driver to bring his own sponsors in for limited exposure.
Izza said:
And waht's the bit about fuel for cooling perposes in Parc Ferme?
Eventually got some feedback on this....a poster from another site replied.
Patrick Head was quoted as saying that he approached Charlie WHiting about the legality of Ferrari chilling the fuel overnight to avoid evaporation and was told it was legal so then he (and most everybody else I guess) had to go out and get Fuel chilling rigs as well.
Sounds the highly probable reason to me
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