Purnell keeps qualifying dream
Red Bull Racing boss Tony Purnell still believes that Formula 1 would be dramatically improved if his idea of replacing qualifying with a series of mini-races was introduced, even though rival team chiefs rejected the plan last year
Purnell put forward the scheme to host two sprint races over the course of a grand prix weekend to decide the grid for the actual world championship race in the middle of last year - amid growing criticisms of the current single-lap format grew.
And although his fellow team bosses rejected the plan, Purnell still believes that the idea has merit and has urged that some reconsideration is given to his idea.
"I thought that to have Schumacher show he is the best driver in the world in every circumstance would be great. The public love it when Schumacher qualified badly because there is real interest there. So I am not saying the qualifying was a panacea but it was meant to be a constructive idea to entertain the public with."
"The surprising thing is that what a lot of people were side-stepped by was that it was a bit leftfield, but I have been surprised by the number of people who have said, 'now I have thought that through and actually given where we are, it could well work rather well'.
"The only constructive criticism I have heard is that it could be more expensive because we have more crashed cars and I think to myself...what does Joe Public love and would we be able to cope? Of course we could."
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