FIA Rules Out Action over 'Go-Slow'

Motorsport chief Max Mosley got his wish for less speed in Formula One after a farcical pre-qualifying session at the British Grand Prix on Saturday.

The threat of rain led to some of the world's fastest cars engaging in a tactical battle to go as slow as possible around Silverstone.

The earliest slots in the decisive session go to the slowest performers in pre-qualifying and, with dark clouds gathering over the Northamptonshire track, drivers were keen to get their qualifying laps completed before the wet weather descended.

World Champion Michael Schumacher looked to have made a virtue of his third spin of the day to finish 14th fastest, while his Ferrari teammate Rubens Barrichello admitted he had gone wide on one corner in a deliberate attempt to go slower.

"We heard that it could rain... so we thought we would try and go a little bit earlier in the (qualifying) session so we had a plan to go a little slower," said the Brazilian, who won here last year.

Other teams followed suit and Jaguar's Christian Klien "won" the anti-race after lapping the 5.141-kms circuit in 1:38.648 - nearly 16 seconds off the lap record - although Nick Heidfeld of Jordan got the coveted first start by virtue of not registering a time at all.

In the event, the rain stayed away long enough for BAR's Jenson Button, who was quickest in pre-qualifying and therefore went last in qualifying, to complete his lap in dry conditions and the Briton will line up third on the grid on Sunday behind pole-sitter Kimi Raikkonen and Barrichello.

"We heard (the rain) was going to go by us," said Button. "We thought we'd go for it, I think that was the safest bet because as soon as you start messing around going slower other people pick up on it and you end up back where you started.

"It's difficult for the crowd ...when all the cars are slowing down, it's not very exciting for them...," he said.

A spokesman for the ruling International Automobile Federation (FIA) said that no action would be taken against drivers who slowed down, but the incident is certain to fuel calls for qualifying to be given a new format after criticism that the set-up this season has been over-long and boring.

"It's the end result of the qualifying format," said Barrichello. "You have to be selfish and look after your strategy... At the end of the day it's part of strategy to be on the track at the right time... so I'm not against it.

"We should look to make the qualifying format better for everyone."