Barrichello Supports One Engine Rule

Ferrari driver Rubens Barrichello has praised Formula One's new regulations but admitted that the new single engine rule made him drive more cautiously during practice and qualifying for Sunday's Australian Grand Prix.

"To be honest with you, I think everything is working. It did (make a difference)," said the Brazilian. "You're running and just looking and everything, you are just not speeding up all the time - Friday, Saturday."

New rules limiting drivers to just one engine per weekend have forced the frontrunners to do limited testing on Friday and reduce their mileage during a Grand Prix weekend to avoid penalties for blow engines.

Barrichello, however, questioned the merits of the new qualifying format because it has forced drivers not to push the car in the first run to make sure they are still able to compete in the second.

"The first qualifying was a little bit strange because it seemed that probably 10 percent of the people were trying to do a time and the rest were just trying to carry the car around for the second one," said Barrichello. "It's too much of a pain if you have an off or something on the first one and you won't have time for the second.

"The rest is pretty cool. The one engine is not a big problem - it's actually better."

The new single-engine regulation was brought in to reduce costs for the smaller teams and if an engine blows up during qualifying the driver is placed 10 positions back on the starting grid.