Proposed Qualifying Format Draws Mixed Reaction

Formula One bosses have agreed in principle to replace a controversial qualifying format with one that should take less time and offer more excitement - but the new format is already drawing mixed reactions in the Nurburgring paddock.

The plans are for two 20-minute free-for-all sessions, separated by a 20-minute break, instead of the single-lap system that has been panned by broadcasters and Formula One insiders alike as too long and too boring.

The change could be in place by the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on July 11.

"It looks good, it's going to work I hope," said Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone at the European Grand Prix on Saturday.

However, Minardi's Paul Stoddart was strongly critical of the proposed change, despite having reluctantly agreed to it in a meeting of team leaders.

"It's not a done deal... we're all supposedly now going to think about what it is that we might be going to get wrong. With a bit of luck, we'll chuck the whole lot out," he said.

"The biggest losers out of this will be Jordan and Minardi."

The single-lap system, with each driver alone on the track, allowed small hard-up teams such as Minardi to offer sponsors guaranteed television exposure.

Aggregate Times

Jaguar's Tony Purnell said each driver would now be allowed six laps in each Saturday afternoon session with cars running on low fuel for flat-out performance.

The starting grid would be decided by an aggregate of the best runs in each half.

Parc ferme, with cars under strict International Automobile Federation (FIA) supervision, would be imposed immediately after qualifying.

"It's not detailed and it's very much subject to the rules actually being produced and everybody agreeing," cautioned Purnell. "It would be a big mistake to say this is what is going to happen. That would be premature."

BAR boss David Richards said some teams had wanted the second 20-minute session to be run on race fuel levels but Ferrari's Jean Todt had argued that could be dangerous, with some cars crawling round to conserve fuel after completing their laps and others still going full tilt.

Stoddart said Ferrari could only benefit from the change and also questioned whether the television companies would welcome the break.

"What I really believe is going to happen is that... you are going to see a budget-related grid," he said. "You are going to see the guys with the money at the top."

Formula One has experimented with various qualifying systems, with the old one-hour free-for-all abandoned at the end of 2002 for a new format with an hour on Friday and Saturday and drivers having one solo timed lap in each.

That was refined for this year, with the two parts shoe-horned into one extended back-to-back session on Saturday.

Under current rules, drivers are not allowed to refuel their cars between qualifying and the race.

That has led to cars starting on different fuel loads and spectators kept in the dark about the real performance levels in qualifying with the fastest driver not always on pole.