Top Drivers Oppose Friday Qualifying Return

Michael Schumacher, Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard are against the return of Friday qualifying to Formula 1, as they confirmed today at the Belgian Grand Prix press conference.

The rumour about the return of a second qualifying session started a few months ago due to the lack of action on Fridays, especially on circuits where Formula 1 teams can test before the Grand Prix.

"From the driver's point of view there is already enough pressure on Saturday and Sunday. I don't find it exciting to do the qualifying on Friday either, " said current championship leader Hakkinen.

Formula 1 boss and broadcasting rights owner, Bernie Ecclestone, complained a while ago about the lack of entertainment on Fridays, which affects not only the spectators, but also the appeal for the television broadcasters, who are not interested in buying the rights for a session without cars on track.

Coulthard offered a drastic solution to solve this problem: "I think we should turn up at the circuit on Friday instead of Thursday, just practise on Saturday [morning] and then go straight into qualifying and go home on Sunday. It would make the weekend shorter."

Schumacher agreed with his rival: "I think David's suggestion is quite nice. Let's just arrive on Friday and make it a weekend event. It would give you press guys more freedom and less work, too."

Formula 1 teams bosses are expected to meet with the governing body, the FIA, next week in London to discuss this and other matters concerning the future of the sport.