Right.

I am part of another F1 prediction competition that is played by about 40 people (outside of the internet) and the rules are quite different to how we play ours. I think these rules work well and could work well in our competition for next season.

So I'll let you know how it works and then let me know what you think. Maybe we could incorporate some of the rules and not others?

1. All prediction entries are submitted on Thursday, before any Free Practice sessions have started so that no advantage is gained.
This is the big one for us, this makes the element of predicting the race much harder, but you are better rewarded.

2. The top 8 positions are predicted, as well as Pole Position and Fastest Lap.
I think this is something we can definitely add, however it would mean posting before qualifying at least.

3. 2 points are awarded for getting the correct driver in the correct position (and for the correct pole/fastest lap). 1 point is awarded for having the correct driver in your top 8, but in the wrong position.
I think this works well if you're predicting prior to any practice times, as it's hard to know who will be quickest at each circuit. Also I think our current system of predicting the right winner gets 3 points, is wrong, as it's just as easy/hard to predict a winner as any other position having seen qualifying.

4. At one race in the season you are allowed to play a 'Joker' card, which means your points for that round are doubled.
This is quite a good rule, as you can gain a stack of points and it's hard to know which race you'll score most points at. For example this year one person scored their highest score of the season on the weekend of their joker and got 28 points.

5. If you miss the time to post your prediction, you get a 'Carry Over', meaning your prediction from the last race is used. This can only happen once consecutively. So if you miss a second race on the trot, you have no prediction.
This is a difficult one, as sometimes a carry over plays well in to someones hands and badly in to others. This one would have helped me this season, but I'm not so keen on it myself.

6. If driver positions change on the same day as the race, the results affect the competition. If the result changes thereafter, it does not affect the competition.
Simple rule that I applied this season in our competition at one stage I think.


So there you go, I think I've covered all the differences. Let me know what you think and if you have any suggestions let's hear them!

I'm also open to running additional competitions for WRC and MotoGP, as I watch them regularly, so let me know if you'd be interested in that (I sort of run a MotoGP competition already, but it's only me and my Dad lol).

It seems way too complicated to me. This competition, to me, is part of the enjoyment I get out of my F1 weekend. Normally, I'd just cheer for a favorite driver, but with a competition, I am also cheering for my predictions. It's like fantasy football in that way.

I see the point in having people place predictions before the weekend. This way people get votes in early. I for one, take time in analyzing each driver, then visit the F1 website after quali to get each drivers post qualifying statements before posting a prediction. This is pretty fun too as it gets me more involved in the sport, when I probably wouldn't be as diligent if I were just watching for fun.

As it is, people who think they might not be able to get their prediction in on time can put in a guess early, and change it later if they want to. Even with predictions coming in after qualifying, there have been more than a few races where no points were scored because no one was close. I think having predictions submitted before practice will just increase the amount of luck in the competition than educated guesses.

I say we should have it be points for 1st through 5th. Guessing to eighth is not only too vague to make accurate predictions, but too hard to keep track of during the race. 5 for first, 4 for second, etc. Then 2 points for pole position, and 1 for fastest lap.

^I agree, that is a really complicated system, and I would feel bad for the guy who had to compile it.

I do like the idea of throwing in predictions for fastest lap and pole however.

As for the having picks in on Thursday, this is OK with me since I don't normally get a chance to watch qualifying until after the race has ended.

Okay so we can keep the predictions as post qualy. I don't think the points scoring system would work though. I often find it easier to predict the winner than the other drivers, therefore I don't think the point scoring should be different depending on position, it should be consistent.

Obviously you can't predict pole pos if you're predicting after qualy, but we could do fastest lap and the top 8 just seemed right for me as they are the points paying positions IRL, I don't have a problem following them during the race.

We've got plenty of time to thrash this out anyway...

How about this:

There ware two deadlines that you can choose from:
The normal one for predicting the race where you predict the top five positions and fastest lap. Three points for fastest lap, five for first, four for second...

Then there is another deadline option with an added bonus. You get your 1st-5th, and pole position predictions in before qualifying starts. You can't change your race predictions after quali, so Sunday will be harder to predict, but you have a shot at an extra 5 points for pole.

This should be more interesting, because if you're leading the game, you won't take the risk for the extra points, but if you are way behind, you could take a shot and be back in the game. Adds a whole new strategy to the competition.

As the new season is slowly starting to come into focus - perhaps we should reignite this thread and solidify the rules.

I've outlined a less radical proposal for next season.

- I think we should keep the top 8 positions, as those last 3 places can often pay out even when the race weekend is turned on it's head and we get an unexpected result and it follows the sports points paying positions.
- I think all positions should pay the same points, whether this is 1 or 2 points for each correct driver/position.
- You only score points for correct positions (as per last season).
- A fastest lap prediction will be added (2 points for the correct driver).

I would also like to get your thoughts on (see OP):
- Playing a Joker at one race in the season. (Double points)
- Carry Over predictions.
- How predicting pole position could work/if it should be included.

Joker no, carryover...um...I would be OK with that so long as you could only do it once in a row...i.e. you couldn't go for 6 weeks without updating your position.

Pole Position is a funny one, maybe that could be used as bonus points in the case of a tie...like the person with the most pole positions would win.

Yeah the thing about Pole is you have to post before qualifying, which is fine if people want to post pole and race predictions at separate times, as long as there is some thread tidiness, so I'm not picking through everywhere when putting the scoresheet together.

My opinion is that especially positions 4-8 are quite a case of luck when predicting it. For the podium you can analyze qually a bit and guess who's heavy and who's not. But after those first few places precise prediction of place is very hard and mostly depending on retirements. I know it would make it harder for the one that keeps the score, but something like 1 point for predicting a driver finishes in the top 8 and an additional point for the exact position would make things less dependent on luck. Would make a nice exercise in Excel, but certainly not impossible.

Just a thought.

^ That's what the scoring is in the other competition I enter, which I think works well.

Don't worry about the keeping score - I made up a spreadsheet for last season anyway, it's fairly simple.

I really like the idea of one point for predicting the people in 1-8, and another point for the exact positions.

Ho do you guys feel about letting people choose to make predictions either before or after qualifying?

You could make your prediction for the race and pole before quali and have a shot at some extra points, but at the risk of not getting all of your predictions in.
Or,
You could wait till after quali and choose with all of the information, but you can only get points for finishing positions.

This way, people who are far behind have a way to catch up, and people who can't watch quali live won't feel gyped.





Also, I feel like we should give different points for different positions, for the same reason. People who fall behind will more likely just say "Screw it, I can't catch up." and give up on the game. But if they have a shot at some good points, it's better. Besides, I think there should be a higher reward for picking first or second then just lucking out and getting 7th or 8th right.

That's why I say 5 for 1st, 4 for second, 3 for 3rd, 2 for 4th, and 1 for 5th, with somewhere between 2-5 for Pole.

I'm down for anything, as long as tune can manage everything. Otherwise, i'd think it'd be wise if someone else would step up and help out, since it takes a bit more attention to the race weekend to handle the pole predictions, and what not.

The only reason I don't like the idea of different points for different positions, is that there were quite a lot of races last season that didn't go as we expected them to, therefore, there were quite a few times where we'd be getting no points for the top 3 and the odd point 4th-8th. If the races are just as diverse this season, it might still be just as hard to catch up if there are only minimal points on offer at the bottom end.

I think the majority of people agree with predicting 1st-8th anyway, as it follows the sports points paying positions.

I can manage whatever - we just need to compromise somewhere.

Some of you guys will never understand Japanese styling trends, its just that simple.
Used Cars

Good point^

Haha

Okay I would like to set out the rules for this season, so that we're not all wondering whats going on. I think it should be as follows. If there are any major objections please let me know.

- We'll all be predicting Positions 1-8 and Fastest Lap.

- I think prediciting a winner is sometimes easier than predicting 6-8, therefore the points paying will be equal from 1-8. 3 points for getting a driver in the right position, 1 point for getting a driver in the wrong position, but still in your top 8. Correct driver for Fastest Lap is 3 points.
I've suggested 3 points for an exact position because I've found in the other competition I'm in that someone will get 7 or 8 drivers in the wrong place and come out with the same or better score than someone predicting drivers in the right place - with 3 points for the right place there is more reward for getting it right rather than putting 8 likely point scorers in any old order.

- If a driver is DQ's on the same day as the race, it affects our competition. If they are DQ'd in the following week/month, it does not affect our competition.

- Carry Over predictions are allowed once consecutively, if you forget to post for a race. I'm not sure about this one, perhaps your race score gets halved if you have a carry over?

Anything else I haven't mentioned stays as it was last year. I think predicting pole position as well gets too messy unless we stipulate everyone has to predict prior to qualifying.

sounds good, more complex, but simple enough.

With carry over predictions you mean that if I predict for race one and forget for race 2 my prediction for race 1 is evaluated again? I think awarding half the points for a cary over is fair, because it is actually just random luck, but it will keep the game interesting for people who forget a few races (like me last year)

And I presume it is 1 OR 3 points for predicting in the top 8 and predicting the right position (so not 1+3=4 points).

I don't know about you, but with one week to go I'm super exited for the new season to begin!

I'm cool with the rules.

Have fun counting all that up.

How about ....


http://uk.f1.fantasysports.yahoo.com/f1


I' not entirely too sure on the format that it gives us if we sign up a DS league, if we could tweak ceartain rules and such?

or we just stick to the old!

I agree with everything, tune. It sounds good all around.

The biggest one for me is the posting before the first practice session. Posting your predictions post-qualifying was pretty bullshit.

Are we going to do the 'post before first practice' rule? I'm not sure about that... I already know that I'm going to forget at least half the races if that is going to be the rule.

I just hope for a post before qualifying rule at least. Practice isn't that big of a giveaway. But, qualifying in F1 influences the race quite a bit more than some other series. It's like giving away half the results at the get go.

It's really not that difficult to add up all the points, I have a simple spreadsheet, so don't worry about that Dr. S - I did it last season after all.

The only rule I can think of for a pre-first practice prediction would be double points. Does that sound good for everyone, or a bit too much reward?

If we want to decide on this it has to be very soon, as I think it is best if predictions are then in on Thursdays. Actually, it doesn't have to be decided right now, as I think it would be a wise move (personally) to wait for the first practice and qualifying sessions to see where everyone stands. That's probably what I will do.

I won't be at work from tomorrow and will be away at the weekend, so won't be able to collate all the predictions etc. (it's easier to do it here), so you will have to bear with me come Monday/Tuesday for the first results.

I think double points is a bit too much of a reward.

I personally don't really see the appeal of guessing before qualifying, since you are guessing with only practice data and knowledge from the previous races. I guess it's more of a challenge, but I don't really see a point, unless you feel that you are not being challenged enough...in which case handicapping yourself by guessing before qualifying should offer more of a challenge if your competing against those of us who guess after.

^ +1

Predicting before qualifying is just more guessing than knowledge, because qualifying IS so important in F1. With all your knowledge you can't predict someone having traffic in quali.

I agree, I put in the effort to make predictions after quali, some people don't and that is their fault.

well then that's pretty clear. Most people prefer the after qualifying prediction. Just to be clear I would be suggesting predictions before any practice sessions.