Coulthard Criticises 'Embarrassing' Rule Changes

David Coulthard today said Formula One's radical rules shake-up is unlikely to change the sport's pecking order and criticised the "embarrassing" way the world motorsport's governing body, the FIA, had introduced the sweeping changes.

FIA president Max Mosley has forced through changes, including single lap qualifying and a ban on pits-to-car telemetry, in time for March's season-opening Australian Grand Prix in a bid to liven up racing and reduce the sport's costs.

Mosley also wants to ban refuelling between qualifying and racing, but McLaren driver Coulthard believes continual changes are making it difficult to prepare for the season ahead.

"The way in which the rule changes came in is embarrassing," said Coulthard. "To have so much confusion put out in such a way and to have so many changes was not good. We do not know where we stand and I can't start focusing until I know what the rules are.

"If it stimulates public interest then that's good but, as a racing driver, it's gone away from the simple format of 'man goes fast in car'."