To be honest, you've always done a class job of designing and maintaining this series. We've tried different approaches and formats, and each successive season has been a fine-tuning improvement.
My thoughts on qualifying are that both the hotlap and sprint race formats have merit. I found the sprint race to be beneficial from the point of view of comparative laptimes; running with fuel as we do in the race provides me with a close approximation of my race setup laptime right off the grid. The sprint race length is not prohibitive and it enables good practice for those of us who don't have much time to practice outside of the official runs.
The hotlap format is of course the traditional qualifying method, and allows us to focus more on sector times than overall race performance. This does not provide insight into expected race setup laptimes, but does enable practice in a similar way, although with a different tire setup to what we are likely run on race day.
I
DO agree with penalties
NOT being applied for the qualifying week. I think this was a very good idea that was proven this past season by examining the results. Points were still kept close while giving a good indication of who is fast and who is not on any given track. It also enables the faster drivers to still haul points for the overall championship even when they're coming in 7th+ place in the race due to penalty restrictions. The comments I've seen from some on this point seem to revolve around the expectation that even slower drivers can win the championship. I disagree, I think slower drivers should have the opportunity to win
RACES, and they do. But the championship should always be there for the taking by the consistently faster drivers, otherwise it loses it's meaning.
As for the race, it's pretty straightforward. I would vote strongly to retain the 45 minute race time, rather than return to the 60 minute format of earlier seasons. It was too long, primarily from a real-life practicality point of view. The only suggestion I would have regarding the race would be to try and reduce our power enough so as to make the AI more competitive. Even at +10, in most races we're passing them into turn 3 or 4, and occassionally just inside lap 2. We all know the AI are annoying in their driving style, but it might mix things up a bit, and actually give them a reason to be on track. I'm a bit unsure about this suggestion, because it may cause a high drop-out rate due to AI frustration...
And finally, keep the open car selection as you had in S4. There is
NOTHING worse than feeling you've been stuck with a dodgy car because your lottery slot was way down the list and there was nothing else left. That was a wise decision to allow multiple selection of the same car this past season 👍
So to summarize:
1. Qualifying in hotlap or sprint race format has merit.
2. Penalties should
NOT apply in qualifying, as in S4.
3. Race time should remain at approx. 45 minutes.
4. (Carefully) consider bringing the AI more into the race.
5. Retain open car selection (cars may be selected multiple times).
Anyway, that's my 2 cents on everything (hey, you asked for it Eats
). I realize I haven't suggested much but rather assessed what we have, but I believe the season is run very smoothly and we've worked out most of the quirks in the past already.
Keep up the great work, Maestro 👍
Every minute saved on required racing means it's easier for more people to get the stuff done. And maybe even be short enough that they can give it more than one go.
LOL .... I didn't do very well last season in the qual's either. So I'm in the "don't really care" group on this one. I did find that trying to race against the cars with better tyres and HP a good challenge 👍 
... Meaning, exit - restart 
because there is no way in hell we're going to submitt a race time with a penalty !
Assuming there will be both. I know some of the "vets" have done this in the past. But, as our dear Swiss friend says - some of you have a life ! ... read that as a woman that must be kept at least mildly appeased. We'll see how Neil fares after his bethroal 
