Formula 1

Qualifying system not popular

The new aggregate qualifying system was met with a lukewarm reception after Sunday morning's second session at the Australian Grand Prix.

From the start of the 2005 season, the Formula One starting grid is formed by adding each driver's times from Saturday's and Sunday's session. However, with a storm hitting the Melbourne track during Saturday's first session, the gaps between most drivers were as large as several seconds, preventing grid positions to change significantly during Sunday morning's dry session.

McLaren driver Juan Pablo Montoya, who will start from the ninth spot on the grid, told Italian television broadcaster RAI that the new system is difficult for viewers to understand. The Colombian also feels the fans will be disappointed with several drivers not setting their flying lap, mostly due to their hopelessness in improving their lowly grid position, including World Champion Michael Schumacher of Ferrari.

"I think this morning was a bit disappointing for the fans to see cars not running," the Colombian said. "I think a lot of people don't understand what's going on, but I'm pretty happy: it's a very difficult situation because you're trying to make a lap time without killing the tyres, so it's not the most exciting thing at the moment. But we kept it on the track - yesterday and today we didn't go off - and it really paid off."

Canadian Jacques Villeneuve, who took his Sauber to the fourth grid position, told RAI: "Well, it's the same for everyone. It doesn't change much from last year, but it doesn't push you as much to go out with less fuel like last year, when you'd try to run on strange strategies. So from that point of view it's good, but for the fans it's difficult to understand."

Ferrari driver Rubens Barrichello, after qualifying in 11th position, said: "Maybe we'll learn something about qualifying when the gaps will be smaller. What happened today won't fun for anyone: the gaps are just too big."