12/03/2010
NEWS STORY
FIA president Jean Todt has revealed that the sport's governing body is considering reintroducing the 107% qualifying rule, but not until 2011.
With the manufacturers heading for the exit, smaller teams struggling for funding and lapping way off the pace, F1 appears to have gone full circle during the reign of former FIA president Max Mosley.
While Mosley is given credit for making the sport safer - in the eyes of some too safe - there are fears that this could be compromised this year what with new teams and drivers entering the sport and further restrictions on testing.
Indeed, with Bridgestone due to leave F1 at the end of this season there is growing concern at the lack of an obvious replacement, with some within the sport seriously worried that a replacement is not already out there collecting data.
Speaking in Bahrain today, Jean Todt addressed one aspect of growing concern, even if it won't happen until next season. The FIA is to reintroduce the 107% qualifying rule by which slow cars - i.e. those that fail to qualify within 107% of the pole time - are not allowed to take part in the race.
"We are very much in favour of reintroducing the 107 percent limit," he said at a press conference this afternoon. "However, to change that for 2010 you need to have the unanimous agreement of the teams. I don't think it will happen so we have to wait until 2011 to introduce it."
Meanwhile, the Frenchman called on the sport to give support to this season's newcomers, to respect them for daring to enter the sport when major manufacturers are jumping ship.
"You must have respect for a new team who is arriving in this particular economic crisis period and to invest money to be in F1," he said. "I don't think it is a time to criticise but to support and help, and to help them, and it is in the interests of everybody. Everybody in the business should be supportive of these days. I was impressed today, they did quite well and we must give them a certain time to be ready.