Ferrari Duo Offer Varied Views on Qualifying

Ferrari drivers Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello offered differing views on the decision by the sport's governing body, the FIA, to leave the new qualifying format unchanged for this weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix.

The new system came under attack from drivers, team bosses, fans and Formula One commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone when it was introduced in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. Last year, single-lap qualifying was introduced with the first run, which decides the running order for the second, taking place on the Friday and the second run taking place on the Saturday.

This year, the second run takes place immediately after the first run but the length of the session in Australia was longer than the race itself, and the single-lap running has been criticised as boring for both fans and drivers.

Barrichello, who was the first driver out on track in Melbourne after winning the preceding Japanese Grand Prix at the end of last season, said in Malaysia on Thursday that he preferred the old system.

"I would have it the same as last year," said Barrichello. "Then, I tried hard on both the first and second runs but now there is no point pushing hard on the first run because there is too much to lose."

Schumacher, however, believes the FIA were right to allow time for the dust to settle on the new format before introducing sweeping alterations - but admitted there could be changes in the future.

"If something seems to go wrong, would you change it immediately?" questioned Schumacher. "Formula One is very serious and to simply change everything after one go is not right. But there is open discussion (on the matter)."