Outline of the New Qualifying Format

The new qualifying format, set to be introduced at Silverstone, remains to be confirmed by the FIA's World Council at the end of the month. However, the major points of the new procedure have been revealed today at Monteal.

Qualifying will span over one hour, with the first part running for 25 minutes, and the second part - also 25 minutes - running 10 minutes after the end of part one.

Each driver will be compelled to run a total of six laps in each part, making it a total of 12 laps (in and out laps from the pits included in the count).

The best time for each driver in the first part will be aggragated with the best time of the driver from the second part. The aggragated time will decide the final grid line up.

Drivers will no longer have to qualify with the fuel load they will begin the race with. Teams can run the cars on low fuel and refuel prior to race day. However, cars will remain in Parc Ferme overnight and other technical changes currently barred by the rules will continue to be barred in the new format.

No other details were made available, including the penalties given to a driver that would run less than six laps in any of the two parts, or a driver who would fail to set a time in either of the qualifying sections.

Furthermore, it remains unclear whether the new format will see the re-introduction of the 107% rule. Prior to 2003, drivers who set a time higher than 107% of the pole sitter would not qualify unless the stewards agreed there were mitigating conditions, such as bad weather. However, with the qualifying format changed last year to a single lap for each driver - driving with race fuel loads - that rule was abolished.

The one engine rule penalty, whereby a driver will drop 10 places down the grid if he changes an engine during the Grand Prix weekend, will remain in place.