Planet-F1

Calls increase for change to qualifying rules

Friday 28th March 2008

David Coulthard and Felipe Massa are the latest two drivers to voice their unease at the new qualifying rules.

Under the new regulations, drivers are not allowed to refuel between the end of qualifying and the start of the grand prix, which means they have to run in Q3 with the fuel they will start the race with.

McLaren duo Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen were docked five places on the grid in Malaysia after they slowed down after crossing the finish in an attempt to save fuel.

McLaren CEO Martin Whitmarsh said after the incident: "You have to be careful not to shoot from the hip, but all teams are involved in the rule-making process and we missed something when the regulations last changed.

"Everyone backs off to save fuel, because the rules allow it, but in reality we shouldn't have a regulation that allows for closing speeds of 200kph on a busy track."

Coulthard and Massa are the latest to join the calls for a change to the rules.

"In my view a rule change is the easiest way to make sure this problem doesn't keep occurring," Coulthard wrote in his ITV column.

"I like the suggestion that drivers will be penalised unless their in-lap is within a certain percentage of their best time.

"It's clear-cut, and there would be no grounds for a stewards' enquiry.

"If you're one-tenth slower than the time you're supposed to do then you'll get a penalty.

"People won't do it then - simple as that. But give them the opportunity to try and save fuel and they will."

Ferrari's Massa believes the new rules make Q3 qualifying "boring".

"There has been plenty of talk about the new qualifying format and whether or not we need to introduce a means to stop cars slowing too much to save fuel in Q3 on the lap after their quick one and certainly I think we need to discuss the situation," said Massa.

"Personally, I don't find the new sporting regulations concerning qualifying in Q3 do much to make it more interesting. At least in the old one you got to do a low fuel run but now it's a bit boring running with the fuel you will use to start the race.

"In the past, it was a bit more fun from the driving point of view. Maybe we need a rule change because of this problem of cars going slowly on their in lap, but let's wait and see what suggestions people come up with."