Qualifying Dispute will not Block Change

With the FIA's proposal for a knock-out format currently being pushed hard, Dennis has said he is in support of a change to the current single-lap system - although he is still furious at the way that Renault boss Flavio Briatore withdrew his support for an agreement reached between teams in Brazil backing the retention of the current system.

"We are in favour of a change as long as it doesn't damage the teams and favour a tyre manufacturer over the other," he told Gazzetta dello Sport. "In Brazil we found an acceptable compromise, but then someone took away his signature: an incomprehensible thing."

Elaborating further on the Briatore situation in Autosprint, Dennis added: "In my life I've signed cheques and even a wedding certificate, but I've never heard of a signature that can become invalid."

Briatore's decision to withdraw his support for the current system left the way open for the FIA to step in and propose the knock-out format to be discussed at the F1 Commission meeting.

And although that dispute between Dennis and Briatore would point towards team bosses not agreeing at the meeting, Todt believes that there is enough impetus for change.

"An agreement on qualifying can still be done," he said. "We all agree that it's necessary to change to cope with decreasing audiences. According to TV stations, current qualifying interests no one.

"A solution has to be found, but the problem is that we never manage to agree on anything. If someone in the paddock says otherwise, then he's not telling the truth."

Todt has drawn short of saying what qualifying solution he favours, though. "I want to have internal meetings first, to see what is in favour and what is against, compared to the current situation."