Schumacher 'Bored' by New Qualifying

Michael Schumacher and David Coulthard were in agreement for once today when they both expressed their feelings on the new-format qualifying sessions introduced this season and used for the first time in the build-up to Sunday's season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

Their joint verdict: it's boring to watch from the garage.

As pundits, critics and armchair fans worldwide began to assess their own views on the new structure that saw all the drivers each given one flying lap in succession to clock a best time, two of the current top drivers simply shrugged their shoulders.

"It was a strange feeling for me," said five-times World Champion Schumacher, who set the fourth fastest time of the day. "It felt very odd. After I had gone out and done my one lap, I was left with nothing to do really but sit back and watch.

"To be honest, I think it was a little boring for me because I could do nothing more. But I think it is too early really to judge this new Formula One format and I would prefer to wait and go through a whole weekend before saying anything."

Coulthard said that it was strange and added that he felt "everyone had to make it up as they went along today. No-one really knew what they were doing."

Schumacher said he felt like a road sweeper as the first man out in the afternoon, but he said he and his Ferrari teammate Rubens Barrichello, who wound up fastest to take the 'overnight' pole for positions in Saturday's running order, had opted for the same strategy and fuel levels.

This was confirmed by the Brazilian who, said Schumacher, produced a perfect lap to take the top time. "We had the same fuel," said Barrichello. "But that's all I can say."