Qualifying to remain unchanged
The FIA has announced that Formula 1's controversial qualifying format will remain unchanged at the German Grand Prix on July 25. A spokesman for the sport's governing body said the qualifying system was being discussed but that all teams had not yet agreed a new format
"We have not yet received that unanimous support," he told Reuters.
The system came under fresh criticism after last weekend's British Grand Prix when several drivers deliberately went slow in pre-qualifying to try and secure an early slot in final qualifying and beat the threatening rain.
It was thought that the farcical proceedings would prompt an immediate change to the system but it seems any revisions will come at the following race in Hungary on August 15.
It was revealed that before the Saturday controversy, the FIA had written to all the teams saying that is was ready to switch to two 25-minute sessions - which would have meant qualifying was run on aggregate - providing there was unanimous support from the teams.
The FIA spokesman said that there had been only a 'limited response' to the proposed changes, but F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone was disgusted with the session and is sure to push hard for a new system after Germany.
"It was all very stupid," he said, "but it is nothing to do with those involved, it is the system - the system needs changing and we will change it. The fans had paid good money to see the cars going as quickly as possible. They were cheated."
The qualifying format had been due to change at Silverstone following agreement by all the team bosses. Last month though the team's rejected the proposal at a meeting of the FIA's Formula 1 commission in London.
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