Irvine Urges Changes to Qualifying Format

Former Grand Prix driver Eddie Irvine has urged Formula One's powers that be to bring back the old qualifying system, claiming the current one is the "most boring thing" he has ever seen.

"In reality we have no idea what the condition of the cars are. It's all bullshit. They must go back to the four attempts per driver," Irvine told Gazzetta dello Sport. "These qualifying sessions are the most boring thing I've ever seen in my life.

"Before, you had to be good at choosing the right moment to get on the track, to be lucky in avoiding yellow flags, and sometimes you had the uncertainty of rain. It was a crescendo with constant changes, electrifying."

The one-lap qualifying format was introduced in 2003, while it was again changed this year with the Friday qualifying hour ditched and two back-to-back hours held on Saturday. The new format has received a lot of criticism both from drivers and television networks.

The rules now also state that a driver must start the race with the same amount of fuel he qualified with.

Irvine, who retired from Formula One at the end of 2002, congratulated Monaco Grand Prix pole setter Jarno Trulli, although the Irishman remained cautious before knowing how much fuel the Renault driver was carrying.

"He [Trulli] was fantastic, even if we don't know how much fuel he had on board," added Irvine. "If he stops within the first ten laps his performance will be put in perspective."