10/01/2005
NEWS STORY
It is just over seven - got that 7 - weeks, until the first practice session for the Australian Grand Prix, and Formula One has yet to decide on a qualifying format acceptable to drivers, teams, broadcasters and fans.
At the weekend, an F1 travel company contacted Pitpass, asking if we knew whether the FIA would be continuing with the proposed qualifying format - whereby the grid will be decided on Sunday morning. We admitted that we are as much 'in the dark' as everyone else.
It's likely that a final decision will be made when the team bosses meet with Max Mosley at the end of this month, but by then the first practice session will be just five weeks away.
Imagine the logistical challenge that this represents not only to travel companies, but to everyone else involved in the business of F1. At present everyone is basing their arrangement on the proposed - Sunday morning - format, but what if this changes, as seems likely.
Other than the fact that the proposed format is nonsensical and will surely drive another nail into the sport's coffin - having made the Saturday session - and thereby all media coverage of it - redundant, the FIA is basing the format on something that (miraculously) worked once (Japan 2004), and then by luck rather than judgement.
It is utterly ludicrous that this close to the start of a new season, everyone is totally unaware of something as basic as the qualifying format.
Then again, what should we expect from a sport which is so 'up itself' that the official calendar wasn't confirmed until December 10, two weeks before the Christmas/New Year 'shut down', leaving (once again), broadcasters, travel companies et al, precious little time to begin making arrangements.
Formula farce indeed.