Coulthard Criticises Constant Rule Changes
McLaren driver David Coulthard criticised the governing body of Formula One for the rule changes introduced in 2003 and those set to be introduced next year, stating the new regulations offer artificial entertainment.
McLaren driver David Coulthard criticised the governing body of Formula One for the rule changes introduced in 2003 and those set to be introduced next year, stating the new regulations offer artificial entertainment.
The FIA introduced a new qualifying format in 2003, whereby each driver can only run one timed lap to determine the order of the grid. Further changes to the qualifying format are planned for next season, however Coulthard believes the constant changes are not for the better.
"It's disappointing that the rules keep changing," Coulthard said, in an interview published today in the Atlas F1 Magazine. "I don't think [the show has] been enhanced, irrespective of what people think of the World Wrestling Federation type grids we get from guys not running a lap. If that's ultimately what the public really believes is good for the sport, and what my colleagues think is good for the sport, I'm disappointed."
Coulthard himself struggled with the one lap qualifying format, but the driver admitted the problem was primarily down to him and not the format. "If there was a one-line answer to [why I struggled in qualifying], then I would have identified that and addressed it already this year," Coulthard told Atlas F1. "To be perfectly open and frank, it's clearly a mental thing rather than a physical thing, because I have the physical ability to drive the car quickly - I do it in all other sessions.
"The pace was there all season in all other sessions, and the racing was good, but if you start in a less than ideal position then you don't win. That's been something that started okay and then in Imola I ran a bit wide, Austria ran a bit wide and then started to get a bit defensive, leading to several races of not really attacking the lap in the way I'd like to. And you're never going to set a pole lap being defensive.
"I'm not entirely sure if I've got on top of it because obviously we're at the end of the season, but I hope and expect it's not as much of a problem next year."
Click here to read the full interview with David Coulthard
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