Richards Condemns New Qualifying Format

Formula One's proposed new qualifying format will make racing less exciting and more predictable, according to BAR's David Richards.

The team boss told a news conference at the US Grand Prix on Friday that, despite voting for a change scheduled for introduction next month, he did not believe it was the right thing to do.

"The proposal that is going forward now for the latter part of this year will produce the fastest drivers at the front of the grid and will be repetitious, time after time, in my opinion," said Richards.

"It might produce interesting qualifying, although you might question that because I don't think it will be very easy to televise, but it will certainly produce duller racing as a result of it."

BAR's Jenson Button is one of three drivers to have beaten Ferrari's world champion Michael Schumacher to pole position in eight grands prix so far this season, with fuel strategies playing a part in that.

New Format

The new format is due to be introduced at the British Grand Prix on July 11th. Qualifying has already been changed once this year after broadcasters complained that the Saturday format introduced for 2004 was too long and boring.

From Silverstone, it will revert to a free for all with two 25 minute sessions divided by a 10 minute break. A driver's grid place will be decided by an aggregate of his fastest lap in each session. Qualifying will also be on low fuel, rather than with existing race loads.

Smaller teams preferred the single lap qualifying because it guaranteed them television exposure for sponsors and offered the possibility of a shake-up on the grid in the event of the weather playing into their hands.

"Where we have ended up is definitely a different format," said McLaren's Ron Dennis. "Whether it is better or not, I think time will tell. But if it isn't, I don't think any team's not prepared to change it yet again.

"But we've got to run probably the rest of the year in this format or stay as we are. That's still a possibility, I think."

Minardi's Paul Stoddart, also opposed to the new qualifying, dismissed that as a throwaway comment however and said the decision for change was taken.