Head Joins Critics Against Qualifying Format

Williams technical director Patrick Head has joined the call for a change in the Formula One qualifying format, after admitting he could see "no reason" retain the new set-up.

The new back-to-back single-lap sessions have drawn complaints throughout the paddock, after drivers admitted they do not push hard in the opening session for fear of ruining their second run.

Television companies have also expressed their dissatisfaction over the situation that sees the two sessions run to around two hours with limited interesting front-running action during much of that time.

"I certainly don't think it is very satisfying as it is at the moment," said Head. "There was at one time a proposal to change it for this race following Australia but that didn't happen.

"It may well get changed before Bahrain but the likelihood is that we will still stay with the same format but it will just be moved around in the timing of it to suit television better."

Head suggested that there had been efforts to scrap the first single-lap session entirely and simply run the grid-deciding session with a running order chosen on the same basis as is currently used for the first runs.

But Head said: "I believe at least two teams were not happy to qualify for the grid in the order of the previous race or in the order of the position in the Championship.

"Because of that, it looks as though we will have to retain some sort of competitive practice that will establish the running order for official qualifying.

"If you wanted to make the first qualifying a bit more interesting then you could average the two qualifying session times and that would cause you to run with low fuel in the first qualifying."

It had been claimed that the team principals pressured for the idea to be put through during meetings between them, the FIA, and the commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone during last season. But Head backed up suggestions made by McLaren-Mercedes team principal Ron Dennis on Friday that the teams were not the ones to instigate the controversial and apparently flawed idea.

"Don't be angry at us about it," said a defensive Head after being ferociously quizzed by a television journalist. "I have to say, despite the fact that the FIA said it was the team principals that asked for this.

"It was not the teams. I was at the meeting where it was asked for, in Indianapolis, and I can tell you quite categorically that it was not the team principals who asked for it.

"We were told what would be good for television and we said if that is what you want that's what we will [do]. Now we are told it is not good, so we will do whatever we are told to do next time."