Mosley Fears Further Qualifying Changes

After weeks of discussions to modify the system introduced at the start of this year, team bosses finally accepted that the Sunday session was not working and voted unanimously to switch to a single lap session on Saturdays instead.

But that move is still unlikely to appease those who believe the sport would be better off ditching the single-lap concept altogether - and moves may be put in place to get a new qualifying format agreed for the start of 2006.

Speaking to Autosport-Atlas in the Monaco paddock, Mosley admitted that there was a chance that further changes could come - although he believed it was damaging for the sport to keep altering the format.

"It remains to be seen," he said. "The thing is, there are lots of very good ideas but getting everyone to agree is tricky. The trouble is you get 10 teams and you  have 15 opinions, but maybe something will come up.

"My personal view is that we mustn't keep changing, but on the other hand this is probably not the ideal (solution) so we shall have to see how it goes. There are always going to be discussions but whether they will result in anything we will have to wait and see."

The problem of making more radical changes to the current format immediately is that it would have been impossible to achieve the required unanimity amongst teams - because certain formats favour certain teams depending on the size of their fuel tanks.

That means that if any major overhaul is to be put in place for next year it will need to be voted on soon so that teams can design their cars safe in the knowledge that they will not be handicapped if the qualifying format changes.

The one thing the teams and Mosley agree on, however, is that the sport had lost out by having its final qualifying session on Sundays - just hours before the race - and that it was much better to have pole position decided on Saturdays.

"It is very important because all the press want it, but also it irritates the public not knowing who is on pole," added Mosley.

"Particularly, you know, if you follow a particular driver and you know he is going to be on pole then you maybe change your plans for Sunday. If he is at the back then you might go and do something completely different, so people need to know. It's no good telling them just two hours before."

The vote to change qualifying now needs to be ratified by the Formula One Commission and the FIA World Council by fax vote, which should be received early next week.

"These people are all over the world and sometimes people don't answer immediately," explained Mosley. "We have to wait until we have enough votes. Now it is a question of whether we can get the world council and the Formula One commission to agree.

"I hope (it is a formality) and I think so, and I am trying to get it done for the Nurburgring."