Formula 1: New qualifying ensures much boredom – SPIEGEL ONLINE

With less work Lewis Hamilton has probably been given in his career no pole position. The world champion of the Mercedes team saw at the end of qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix, as a competitor after another in the box rose and gave out of his car. Only team-mate Nico Rosberg tries to five minutes before the end of qualifying again for an improved lap, but remained well behind Hamilton.

Sebastian Vettel also had developed at this time, the steering wheel of his Ferrari and ran through the pit lane. After all, said the alleged challengers, it was “a bit weird” been, “at the end is no longer to be outside.” Vettel knew at that point, however, that from behind lurked no more danger, and the residue was too great on the two Mercedes drivers. So decided the four-time world champion, to conserve his tires.

Schlechter had the launch of the new qualifying format in Formula 1 can hardly walk. What should bring voltage from the first to the last second, many direct duels and an appreciation of the Saturdays, caused confusion among the teams and for confusion and boredom among viewers. Images from the pit lane dominated the TV coverage.

core of the new qualifying is split into three phases whacked-mode where every 90 seconds a driver retires. That should provide at the beginning of the qualifications for a lot of traffic and unpredictable maneuvers and bring the end many exciting duels. The opposite was the case:

• In the first section the surprises did not materialize, with Manor, Haas and Sauber eliminated the athletic weakest teams with two drivers from

Haas and Sauber sent their drivers also too late to the track, they could their last round not end before the 90-second time limit.

• the two Force- India pilots Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez left coasts, because they have nine and ten at the beginning of the race free tire choice in the squares. Explanation: Who will reach Q3, is obliged to start with the tires from Q2

• Q3 was a farce.. Apart from Hamilton and Rosberg all other drivers went out prematurely.

• The obligation early to ensure good times, the tire claimed so much so that in addition to Vettel and team-mate Kimi Raikkonen, Max Verstappen and Felipe Massa their cars abstellten prematurely to save the tires. And the list could be continued arbitrarily.

The early start time (7 am CET) could at least have prevented the very great annoyance at the Formula 1 fans in Europe. Therefore now call the first team managers an immediate change – the second qualifying of the season in Bahrain (April 3) is started again for best European airtime

“I am the first to say, we should not bad on TV. talk about many things, but the new qualifying format is quite rubbish, “said Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff the TV channel Sky. “We must do this thing the same,” said Christian Horner of Red Bull. “What we have seen today, was not good for Formula 1.” He called for changes already for Bahrain. Rosberg was more specific: “We should return to the old system.”

Especially since the old system did not stand in the criticism and was changed unnecessarily. “I do not know why everyone is so surprised,” said Vettel. “We have said that it is so that the format does not work.”

The ailing Formula 1 has created a new site.

Formula 1 season 2016

The teams and drivers

Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg
Ferrari
Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen
Williams
Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas
Red Bull
Daniel Ricciardo and Daniil Kwjat
Force India
Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Pérez
Renault
Kevin Magnussen and Jolyon Palmer
Toro Rosso
> Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz jr.
Clean
Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr
McLaren Honda
Fernando Alonso and Jenson button
Manor
Rio Haryanto and Pascal Wehrlein
Haas
Romain Grosjean and Esteban Gutierrez

The race calendar

The records

  Most world title
Michael Schumacher (7)
Most Grand Prix wins
Michael Schumacher (91)
The most wins in a season
Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel (both 13)
most start-finish victory
Ayrton Senna (19)
most podiums
Michael Schumacher (155)
most podiums in a season
Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel (17 each)
most pole positions
Michael Schumacher (68)
most pole positions in a season
Sebastian Vettel (15)
The fastest laps
Michael Schumacher (77)
most Grand Prix starts
Rubens Barrichello (323)