New Rules Will Bore Fans, Says Coulthard

David Coulthard believes that Formula One's new rules will result in fans becoming bored as they struggle to work out the leader of each Grand Prix.

The FIA's decision to ban refuelling between qualifying and the race threatens to throw up interesting strategies as teams debate whether to sacrifice grid positions and opt to fill the car with fuel.

But McLaren driver Coulthard believes that the new rules will actually be a turn-off for fans because they will be unable to understand who is actually leading a Grand Prix until 20 laps from the end.

"I think people will be bored very quickly of working out what is going on until 20 laps from the end when the refuelling has worked itself out," Coulthard said ahead of this weekend's season opening Australian Grand Prix.

"If you've all got the same level of fuel then you get overtaking. What the fans want is racing on the track and not work out the strategies - it's just too confusing. Racing happens on the track not on the pit-wall."

Coulthard also believes he is only racing for second at Sunday's Australian Grand Prix after ruling out any threat to Ferrari dominance from either his McLaren team or rivals Williams.

"Our immediate goal is to get in front of Williams," Coulthard said. "We've seen during testing Ferrari is still leading the way, they've showed good pace. It doesn't mean a win is impossible, but they certainly start the season as favourite.

"I hope I will (be the driver most likely to beat Schumacher)... but the reality is that I won't know until I get on to the track and see the pace of all the cars. Winter testing is one thing, but it's how you perform on that day in history that counts."