Sunday Warm-Up Axed from F1 Race Timetable

Formula One bosses have issued an official Grand Prix schedule incorporating controversial changes - including scrapping Sunday warm-ups - a day after top teams Williams and McLaren challenged their actions.

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) published the official timetable for the 16-race season today following a vote by the FIA's Formula One commission and world motor sport council.

It confirmed the new single-lap qualifying format, with hour-long sessions on Friday and Saturday, and abolished the Sunday warm-up which allowed teams a half-hour run to fine-tune settings before the race.

The timetable included for the first time a special two-hour Friday morning slot for those teams who have agreed to limit testing during the season.

FIA president Max Mosley said last week that the Sunday warm-up would have to go as part of changes that include banning refuelling between Saturday's qualifying and the race. The changes are designed to liven up races after a season of dwindling television audiences and Ferrari domination and to cut costs for teams struggling to raise sponsorship.

Williams and McLaren, two of the wealthiest teams and fierce rivals on the track, joined forces on Thursday to challenge the changes. They accused Mosley in a joint letter of 'dumbing down' the sport and said they would go to arbitration to challenge the manner in which the measures had been introduced.

The action could overshadow the season with a decision from the Lausanne chamber of commerce not expected for a year. Both teams have said they will race as normal under the new regulations. The teams' action came as no surprise to the governing body but was criticised by two rival bosses.

"I am horrified and absolutely astounded," BAR team principal David Richards told The Guardian newspaper. "This is the last thing the sport needs at the moment. We should all be pulling together to make it a success."

Minardi's Paul Stoddart added: "It is a very sad prospect if we are going to have a year of off-track politics when the fans would rather have on-track racing."

The new timetable is as follows (local times):

Friday:

08:30-10:30: Private session for those teams who have signed up for limited testing during the season (To date Renault, Jaguar, Jordan and Minardi).

11:00-12:00: Free Practice

14:00-15:00: Qualifying (fastest runs last in Saturday's session)

Saturday:

09:00-09:45: Free Practice

10:15-11:00: Free Practice

13:30-13:45: Warm-Up

14:00-15:00: Second Qualifying

Sunday:

14:00: Race - Except for Malaysia (1500), Canada (1300), Britain (1300), United States (1300) and Japan (1430).