Fans Call for Qualifying Change
Formula One teams are set to come under increased pressure to ditch the sport's current single-lap qualifying format after a majority of fans expressed their disapproval of the system in an FIA survey
The teams have failed to settle on a satisfactory qualifying format ever since single-lap qualifying was introduced at the start of 2003. It has been revised three times since then, and still does not have universal support.
Discussions have continued this season about changing it again for next year, and a decision needs to be taken swiftly to allow teams enough time to accommodate any car design changes in their 2005 challengers if low-fuel qualifying is to return.
With 70 percent of the 93,000 fans who took part in the FIA/AMD Survey having said they "would prefer qualifying to be decided by the best time from a specified number of flying laps", sources have told Autosport-Atlas that the FIA is now likely to put pressure on the team to agree to revert to the old system.
Only this week, the current single-lap format, and especially the manner in which the running order penalises drivers who retire from the previous race, was roundly criticised by McLaren boss Ron Dennis and Red Bull Racing's David Coulthard.
Dennis said: "Not only do you not finish a race, which is bad enough, but you carry this disadvantage to the next event, because of your start position on the next qualifying session. When you had two qualifying sessions there was some possibility of minimising the effects of your start position, but now with one qualifying session it is really hard."
Coulthard added: "If you go out early in one race, you have to start early in qualifying for the next. That means you have a bad qualifying, because physically you just cannot go quicker than someone else who has an equal lap later in the session because the track is in a better condition.
"So it is a handicapped F1 system we have. You are handicapped if you have an engine failure, even if it is no fault of the driver, and then the crowd are deprived of what may be a fantastic race, as they were in France."
Connecting two of Ferrari's favourite F1 sons
Gilles Villeneuve's exploits behind the wheel of a Ferrari made him a legend to the tifosi, even 40 years after his death. The team's current Formula 1 star Charles Leclerc enjoys a similar status, and recently got behind the wheel of a very special car from the French-Canadian’s career
How a 30cm metal wire triggered open warfare in the F1 paddock
Porpoising has become the key talking point during the 2022 Formula 1 season, as teams battle to come to terms with it. An FIA technical directive ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix and a second stay appearing on the Mercedes cars only served to create a bigger debate and raise tensions further
Does Verstappen have any weaknesses left?
Having extended his Formula 1 points lead with victory in Canada, Max Verstappen has raised his game further following his 2021 title triumph. Even on the days where Red Bull appears to be second best to Ferrari, Verstappen is getting the most out of the car in each race. So, does he have any weaknesses that his title rivals can exploit?
How F1's future fuels can shape the automotive sector
In 2026, Formula 1 plans to make the switch to a fully sustainable fuel, as the greater automotive world considers its own alternative propulsion methods. Biogasoline and e-fuels both have merit as 'drop-in' fuels but, equally, both have their shortcomings...
The breakthrough behind Sainz’s best weekend of F1 2022 so far
OPINION: Carlos Sainz came close to winning in Monaco but needed that race’s specific circumstances for his shot at a maiden Formula 1 victory to appear. Last weekend in Canada, he led the line for Ferrari in Charles Leclerc’s absence from the front. And there’s a key reason why Sainz has turned his 2022 form around
Canadian Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2022
Plenty of high scores but just a single perfect 10 from the first Montreal race in three years, as Max Verstappen fended off late pressure from Carlos Sainz. Here’s Autosport’s assessment on the Formula 1 drivers from the Canadian Grand Prix
Why “faster” Ferrari couldn’t beat Red Bull in Canadian GP
On paper the Canadian Grand Prix will go down as Max Verstappen’s latest triumph, fending off late pressure from Carlos Sainz to extend his Formula 1 world championship lead. But as safety car periods, virtual and real, shook up the race Ferrari demonstrated it can take the fight to Red Bull after recent failures
The in-demand helmet designer creating works of art for F1's best
GP Racing’s OLEG KARPOV pays a visit to designer Jens Munser, to observe the production of Mick Schumacher’s special helmet for the Miami Grand Prix. What follows is some fascinating insight on the mindsets of Mick’s dad Michael, and family friend Sebastian Vettel