The Weekly Grapevine

The return of pre-qualifying?

That Prodrive was confirmed as Formula One's newest team is no surprise.

Regular readers of this column will remember a rather in-depth analysis published in these pages at the time that rumours first broke that, after two attempts at running F1 teams for others, David Richards intended taking Prodrive into the sport for its own account.

The analysis concluded that, of all possible candidates Prodrive was technically the most advanced and, of the potential team bosses, Richards was the best-connected and most politically-astute.

So, as said, no surprises there.

What is, though, surprising, is that a number of 'rejects' are clinging to their dreams of entering (or re-entering in the case of one or two) the sport despite having been advised that their applications had not succeeded.

Of course, "If at first you don't succeed..." springs to mind, but, given that the sport's revised regulations restrict entry lists to 12 teams of two cars each through from 2008 to 2012, these optimistic parties surely could spend their time better concentrating upon their existing activities until, at least, the end of this decade?

Unless, of course, they know something we don't, and are exceedingly hopeful of persuading the FIA to open the doors to more teams a-la 1988, when 36 and more race entries were presented for scrutineering - with spare cars for some of the larger teams adding to the traffic jams outside circuits' technical bays.

Vincenzo Sospiri (Lola T97/30 Ford) fails to qualify for the 1997 Australian Grand Prix at Melbourne © LAT

Lola, which, rather ironically, changed hands after its 1997 attempt at re-entering the premier division led to tears of the red ink variety, confirmed this week that it had received requests from two entities to build chassis for them had their applications been successful.

Despite this brace of hopefuls having been turned down, Lola is pressing ahead with the design.

Given the company's crippling relationship with F1, would its financially (very) astute controllers risk all on an F1 programme on a whim? Unlikely, and thus there appears to be a sniff of hope in the air.

Ditto Paul Stoddart, who told a colleague during the Australian Grand Prix that, whilst he had little confidence that his entry would be accepted - his was the antithesis of Richards' in that he had no facilities and has not been Man Of The Moment in FIA corridors - there was always chance that things could change 'by next year'.

Now, the chances of 'Stoddie' changing his political spots are about as great as Midland's IKEA'd motorhome featuring in the New York of Modern Art, so, again, maybe the chain-smoking Australian has insider info that entries will be less restricted than has been implied.

Then, on Friday, the very day the sport's controlling body announced the 12 successful teams, another of the hopefuls, to wit Carlin Motorsport - run by Trevor of the same surname, and previously Sporting Director of Midland-Jordan - issued a statement advising that:

"The opportunity to try to enter the F1 World Championship in 2008 was too good to miss and whilst I am disappointed that we didn't get a place this time around, we have been encouraged by the invitation from the Secretary General to leave our intention to enter on the table and stay in touch with them in the case of a vacancy arising.

"We intend to keep our business plan for F1 on course and the initial financial package for 2008 remains in place with discussions for secondary funding continuing."

Given that the alleged ceiling is 12 teams, and that a dozen are committed to entering the 2008-2012 championship; given that entry franchises are negotiable instruments with considerable commercial value, what chance of Carlin entering F1 in the near future other than by a) purchasing an existing franchise, or b) a vacancy unexpectedly occurring due to withdrawal of a team, or c) a relaxation of the ceiling.

The above statement certainly favours third-mentioned, with the pointed inclusion of "the invitation from the Secretary General (of the FIA) to leave our intention to enter on the table" pointing to same...

Finally, just this week, a Prodrive spokesperson suggested that Friday pre-qualifying, as was traditional in the mid- to late-eighties, could make a return. Yes, he acknowledged, safety would be a priority - although, it must be said, no fatalities occurred during that period.

Why would the latest team to enter suddenly suggest pre-qualifying?

Gregor Foitek (EuroBrun ER189 Judd) fails to pre-qualify for the 1989 Hungarian Grand Prix © LAT

The FIA has said it is 'unlikely' that the ceiling will be raised, pointing to safety and logistical limitations at the tracks. But, whilst these are certainly considerations, are they entirely valid as prohibitors of additional teams?

Consider that all circuits presently accommodate up to 33 cars (even if, at Monaco, lower-ranking spare cars are kept in the parking garage below Prince Albert's rear garden).

Consider that, on Fridays, up to 22 race cars plus seven Friday cars circulate at varying speeds without major mishap, despite some of the 'Third Drivers' being lamentably inexperienced.

Where, then, is the safety or logistical hazard in admitting 13 or even 15 teams to the championship?

The banishment of third (Friday) cars for lower ranking teams would create the space required by additional teams, whilst most fans would surely rather be entertained by 30 full-on entries circulating throughout the weekend than a see field bolstered only on Fridays by a handful of testers?

Then, by getting rid of spare cars, either entirely (to save costs) or into the back of transporters (to appease the wealthier teams) would free up much-needed pit space for the newcomers, whilst greatly adding to the qualifying and race spectacle - for a field of 30 cars certainly does the sport greater justice than does an entry list of twelve two-car teams.

And, note: pre-qualifying has not even been touched upon. Should that be on the cards, F1 could even open up to 18 teams - returning the sport to the days when 36 cars arrived at scrutineering. Why not?