Yet Another Reason Why The Qualifying Format Is Stupid.
Written by George Katinger · July 5, 2005
Ask Mark Webber. He chose to complete the French GP under extreme pain and hazardous conditions, endangering himself and possibly others. Why? Ask Max, he knows all and will gladly tell you he knows better than everyone else in the sport, or anyone elsewhere on any subject!
planet-f1.com: Williams team praise Webber’s ‘Aussie grit’
grandprix.com: Now Webber rails against the rules
Sorry. I do tend to get carried away with my own rhetoric, but I learned it from you Max, okay? The issue I’m referring to is Webber’s willingness to endure severe pain from excessive heat in his cockpit.
Why is this Max’s fault? It’s his qualifying format, that’s why. If Mark had parked his car as any reasonbly sane driver would due under the circumstances, he would have a totally crap qualifying start at Silverstone next week. The earlier you drop from a race, the sooner you have to go out on the ridiculous one lap qualifying format at the next race. So Mark was willing to risk injury or worse to himself and his fellow drivers in the attempt to be competitive at the next race, regardless of his finish at Magny-Cours.
How would Max respond to this tidbit of insight? Here’s my guess. It’s not the regulations, it’s not the FIA, it’s not me, It’s up to the driver and teams to make these decisions. Same as when Kimi and McLaren gambled Raikkonen’s life in the German GP.
Teams are there to compete and race, and if that means taking chances that is what they will do. The lousy regulations for one tire per race, one engine for every two races, and single lap qualifying Max has foisted on the sport are near criminal in their impact. If the consequences were so severe, why did the teams accept them? Good question.
I believe the teams are united in their desire to lose Bernie and Max’s tyrannical and mercenary alliance with Bernie, by going off in their own series. When the adversary (Max) lays out contrary regulations which will cause you to leave, sometimes it’s better to accede as to oppose. Which is why we fans are all victims of a passion play we have no control over. Based upon historical experience, someone will be crucified, the issue still in doubt is who.
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7 Responses to “Yet Another Reason Why The Qualifying Format Is Stupid.”
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how is this max’s fault? you do know that qualifying rule change, at least, must be agreed upon by every team in f1. even if one team disagrees, the rules will not be changed. that’s how the change from 2 days qualifying to 1 day qualifying was agreed upon by every team. you do know that, don’t you? or do you not know anything?
You miss the point cccp. Sometimes you have to sleep with the devil to get rid of the devil.
If the teams as a collective realized the rules Mad Max is pushing would create a nightmare on competition and create less interest by the fans it makes it all the more easier to show Max the door.
And good riddence when he does go!
By the way George, did you see the first 12 A1GP cars have been delivered?
wait a sec!
what about tony stewart needing IV fluids to do the indy 500 coke 600 double and nearly passing out?
why did none of the other drivers have this problem?(maybe a conditioning issue)this wasnt the hotest race of the year.
if we expect every driver to stop a race when they feel bad then these races will all end with 6 cars only!
take a look at this link http://www.sportnetwork.net/main/s85/st76467.htm
george
its clear you hate max but dont let that cloud you view of things.
at the fans’ expense and create a farce? how is that justifiable?
the rules were originally changed to help other teams beat ferrari. the other 9 teams wanted it badly, and this year the rules finally made it possible. the rules made this season one of the most unpredictable and exciting f1 seasons since the new millenium.
in fact, 2005 season has been smashingly popular until the usgp. everything was perfect (albeit two day qualifying, which was fixed through agreement of every party), until michelin couldn’t produce safe tires.
the reason why they wanted max to go was because of the usgp, not the rule change. how could they blame max for the disaster they created? it’s the best example of ‘finger pointing’, and what better way to do it than pointing it at f1’s public enemy number 1?
so please, stop getting things messed up. this is the ugliest politics i’ve seen in f1. it’s disgusting, and it’s more disgusting when ‘fans’ dirtied it even more.
Read the ENTIRE posting cccp, you will see I acknowledge the teams playing along with this nonsense. But it’s Max at the top that took away the original qualifying format, and it’s evolved to this in an effort to save it.
Max has a unique ability to take credit for everything good and blame others for all that goes bad. Which as Paul Stoddardt has stated, is the reason he’s got to go.
Hate has nothng to do with it Viper, I’m reaching conclusions based on what I read and hear. “It isn’t personal Sonny, it’s business.” Webber’s heat problem was from an engine malfunction of some kind, it had nothing to do with the weather. He has said he would have parked the car IF NOT FOR THE QUALIFYING FORMAT. Could there be a less ambiguous statement?
My sentiments exactly George, Max is the anti christ! if you look carefully his brown shirt is showing & his old man would have approved.Bring back that bastard Balestre. Come to think of it Bill France would have fixed this mess by lunchtime & kicked some heads on the way.
You said it George, Max is the anti christ! if you look carefully his brown shirt is showing.I wonder what his old man would have thought.Bring back that Bastard Balestre.Come to think of it Bill France would have this mess sorted by breakfast & kicked some heads on the way.