Cooper Straight

The key achievement of this change is that TV broadcasters now know exactly when the real action is supposed to begin, and can plan accordingly. In addition, the whole process will finish earlier in the afternoon, allowing both teams and media more time to get their work done after the session.

At least someone is trying to hone the system that we've been saddled with, but isn't there an even better way?

In the short term at least, talk of aggregating sessions or returning to the 12 lap format of 2002 and earlier is a waste of time. Within this current season there is obviously a limit to what can be done, not least because of engine mileage and parc ferme considerations. It's also difficult to mess with Friday, because of the teams' commitment to third driver programmes.

Within those constraints, I believe I've found a timetable that could work. I'm not the only person to have suggested having one run based on the previous race results, but I think I've found a way to make it more acceptable to Ferrari and others opposed to 'handicapping,' while still being of considerable interest to the public. And at the end of the day, that's what counts most.

Under my system a warm-up session replaces the current first qualifying runs, which clearly teams have factored into their planning for the year in terms of both engine miles and qualifying preparation. This is how it could work:





No change



1.40pm-1.50pm (approx - exact time is flexible): Warm-up session as per last year.

2pm: One qualifying lap with order determined by previous race, as per current first session.

While this system can still be seen as handicapping race winners, the concept of having the previous race (and even the previous season) affect the next one has already been accepted by the teams, albeit in the slightly milder form of the first run only. They can have no real grounds for complaint. It will be swings and roundabouts, and even Ferrari will benefit if they get involved in a first lap accident.

They key issue here is that by re-introducing the warm-up, the penalty on the cars that run first is reduced. Not only is the track cleaned and left empty for just 10 minutes, it also gives those running first a chance to qualify as little as 10 minutes after their warm-up run. The track will hardly have changed, and in that respect they could gain some advantage over those who go out up to 40 minutes later.

The difference between the current first runs and this warm up is that the times don't matter. Drivers can choose when they go out, and there is no pressure to drive at 99% and risk a silly mistake, as there is now, in order to gain a spot in the final order. If they feel confident about engine mileage, they can squeeze in extra laps; those who don't enjoy the single lap system could sacrifice engine miles (and tyres) by doing a couple of runs. The warm-up also gives the fans at the track a little extra action to see.

Thus far the first runs have proved unpopular and meaningless. We saw some silly gamesmanship in Malaysia where the Renaults ran relatively light on the first run in order both to scare the opposition and to gain the last qualifying spots. It backfired when the drivers then found the car tricky with a slightly heavier load, and made mistakes. This sort of thing is a joke, and confuses everybody, not least casual TV viewers.

This system also gets rid of the two-minute gap, negating the need for an urgent turnaround and pit lane refuelling for whoever is last out/first out. If someone stops or spins off in the warm-up they should be allowed to use the same car, if it can be retrieved (and fuelled) in time. This avoids the unfairly heavy penalty of exclusion that drivers now receive if they mess up on the first runs.

As a by-product, the qualifying order is in effect made public 13 days in advance, at the end of the previous race (last year the lead time was 24 hours, which was better than nothing). This gives the media time to speculate upon who will gain or lose, while teams will have specifics to talk about in race previews.

A known order could encourage interest from the public, and ensure that they tune in all the way through qualifying. They know most of the best guys are probably out first, but some are running at the end. Because of the advance warning sponsors could even place their TV adverts either side of the five car segments in which their man is running.

Some people are opposed to using a reversed race order because they feel that the quicker guys should be out last. There is some sense in that argument, but under this system there is in effect only a one in 10 possibility of having a Minardi as the last car out, so there is little chance of an anti-climatic finish. The group going last will nearly always include some significant runners, who will keep people's attention. After Malaysia the last four drivers out in Bahrain would be Kimi Raikkonen, Nick Heidfeld, Ralf Schumacher and Mark Webber, three of whom are serious players.

An established order also gives teams plenty of chance to think about strategies, and adjust their weekend's preparation accordingly. Clearly those who know they are going early in qualifying can err towards a lighter fuel load.

If the weather plays a role on Saturday, drivers do not have the possibility to interfere by sandbagging on the first run (or even avoiding it), as they do with the current system. The order is pre-set, and they have to take their chance if the track is drying, or if rain is expected. Teams have an equal chance of gaining and losing during the year.

Having a reverse order will not really discourage drivers from continuing to race to the flag. Obviously points pay down to eighth, and positions beyond that still play a role in the championship order (and have financial implications). An already delayed driver could of course retire in order to be classified 15th instead of finishing 12th, so as to gain a better qualifying position for the next race. But the benefits of so doing are relatively small.

Perhaps most importantly of all, the whole thing will last just 65-70 minutes from the start of the warm-up to the last qualifying run. That's a manageable TV package.

It all seems to make sense to me. Last week I ran it by a leading team principal - someone who was not keen on using the order from the previous race for qualifying proper. He agreed that it with a warm-up, it could work, and suggested I contact Bernie Ecclestone, as he was the only guy who could get something like this off the ground.

I duly passed my thoughts on, and Bernie faxed back with his thanks and a reminder that changes have to come from a unanimous agreement of the teams. He suggested that the impetus for a revision should come from the boss I'd contacted.

There's not a lot more I can do, other than put my idea into the public domain. It is just one among dozens of that are being bounced around, but I reckon it does have something going for it. Does anyone else agree?