They screamed for a new one. It took a bit time too come to the final format, but finally there it is…..and still…not everybody is happy with it.

I guess everybody have heard of the new qualification-format; two instead of one qualification that really counts for the final decision of the grid.

The first session is on Saturday in the afternoon with low fuel levels to get one quick lap and it will run in reverse order of the results of the previous race. The second session on Sunday morning, the cars can be refueled to the race level, it may not be refueled again before the race, and this qualification will run in reverse order of the first qualifying session. After both qualifying sessions the cars are send to the parc- fermé straightaway. The times of the two sessions will be aggregated to decide the final grid, with the shortest aggregate time in pole position.

With other words: no one can play hide and seek anymore.

As I said earlier, not everybody was pleased with the new format; TV-stations, newspapers and several drivers.

On the 17^th of February ITV unfortunately pronounced not to broadcast the Sunday qualification because they didn’t find it sufficient and also they had to think of the money(the chopper has to fly more) and the and of the broadcasting time they may occupy. ITV will show a summary of the Sunday session during the preview of the race.

Newspapers aren’t happy either; with the old qualification-formats they could show the starting grid in the papers of Sunday. With the second session on Sunday morning it(the starting grid) can’t be shown op the papers anymore.

Now the drivers, several do like it and several don’t. An argument from one of them to like it is: ‘Every body has to do their best on both sessions, we can’t fool each other anymore. And there is more competition for the pole position what makes it more exciting for us and the spectators.’

A reason to be unhappy with it is…..’ We now have less preparation time before the race, we have to work on a more tight schedule and if anything go wrong we’re out. The whole ‘aggregate of the two qualifying times’ thing may be a bit confusing for the spectators. And something you may not forget, what is very important for the tire choice, are the changing conditions; if there are extreme condition changes you don’t have a free-practice(on Sunday) or no ‘installation-lap to look what would be the best way to do the one qualifying lap.’

That are a few of the many cheers and complaints about the new qualifying.

Myself, I don’t have much against the new qualification. I really have to thank Max Mosley for introducing this new qualification. I mean, for us there’s more sensation especially now they can’t play with each other anymore what makes it more exciting.

Also for the people who actually are at the Grand Prix it’s less boring; last year you only had the race on Sunday. Now you have a qualification and a race on the racing day; the spectators don’t have to wait so long for some ‘action’ anymore!

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