New System Will Not Favour Schumacher, Says Panis

Michael Schumacher cannot expect Formula One's new one lap qualifying format to play into his hands next season, according to Toyota's Olivier Panis.

"I don't know why people say that," the French veteran said during testing with his new team at the Circuit de Catalunya. "I think we have a lot of drivers who like qualifying and maybe a lot who are quicker on the first lap."

Ferrari's five times World Champion Schumacher has said he is looking forward to the new qualifying, with each driver allocated one flying lap on his own, because he can be immediately fast.

International Automobile Federation (FIA) president Max Mosley said this month that he expected to see the German on pole more regularly in 2003 than in 2002 when he was fastest seven times. Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya also secured seven poles for Williams last season.

Panis, 36, welcomed the changes introduced last month to spice up a Championship dominated by Ferrari and increasingly proving a turn-off for many television viewers after Schumacher won 11 races. The FIA has also changed the scoring system, awarding points to the top eight instead of six.

"I am positive. We need some change. I understand what the spectators want but also the drivers want more of a fight and more things," said Panis. "For the show it is quite good. What we need to fight Michael is to have as good a car as him and maybe different ideas. Maybe people will think a little bit differently if somebody fights Michael in qualifying.

"I feel really positive about the points also. It is fairer for everybody, for the small teams. It is quite fair and at the end of the day we need to change something."

Panis, a former McLaren test driver and race winner with Ligier in 1996, is joining Toyota after two years with Honda- powered British American Racing. He has yet to test last season's debut Toyota, driving a 'hybrid' version in Barcelona with a new engine and gearbox installed in the 2002 chassis.

"I am really positive about the team," said the Frenchman. "I know we have a lot to do next year but everybody has learned a lot and already the team has made a big step for next year's car.

"We have a lot of things to improve but some parts of the car are going in a really good direction. The back end of the car is very good. I don't like to compare the cars because they are so different but BAR is better in some areas while Toyota have a big advantage in others."