05/05/2006
NEWS STORY
Although, for the most part, the new qualifying format has received the thumbs-up this season, there has been widespread concern that the final part of the session is not as good as it could be. The sight of ten cars aimlessly lapping circuits, burning off fuel, is not only lacking in entertainment, it send out an entirely wrong message in terms of environmental concerns.
Now, ahead of the fifth round of the 2006 Formula One season, the drivers' representative body, the Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA) has called on the 'powers that be' to look into how the final part of the session might be restructured, in order to provide better spectacle and a slightly more environmentally friendly image.
"We have thought about it, in order to offer some advice to the FIA to improve the schedule," Jarno Trulli told reporters at the Nurburgring. "We feel it is not good enough now. The drivers all feel the same about it."
Amongst the ideas being proposed is that drivers could declare their proposed (race start) fuel load before the start of the final session, but actually run on a qualifying load.
However, another suggestion comes from F1 supremo, Bernie Ecclestone, the man behind the current format: "We could have these 10 drivers going out one at a time for a single flying lap like last year," he told Gazzetta dello Sport. "If all the teams agree, it can be done from the next grand prix."
However, as is always the case in F1, it is impossible to get everyone's agreement.
"I think we should leave it," said Mark Webber. "Everyone's used to the system now. I'm sure if they want to change it, they will. If they don't, they won't."