By subh
October 16 2003

The FIA, governing body of motorsport, changed the rules ahead of the 2003 Formula One season. The alterations - particularly relating to qualifying and race fuel loads - were meant to improve the show. Fans have been voting here on SportNetwork about how it’s worked out. We’ve seen a few mixed up grids. After mistakes or failures on Friday, leading drivers have gone out first on Saturdays. Some of them have started at the rear of the field. The weather has affected qualifying, and even the Minardis went quickest, provisionally, in France.

Fuel strategies have varied, and some drivers have elected to start from the pitlane and top up at the last minute. We’ve seen five teams win races - Ferrari, Williams, McLaren, Renault and Jordan - and eight different drivers have made the top step. They were Michael Schumacher, Rubéns Barrichello, Juán Montoya, Ralf Schumacher, Kimi Räikkönen, David Coulthard, Fernando Alonso and Giancarlo Fisichella.

And almost every single team led a race this year - the exception being Minardi. For Jaguar, it was a couple of laps at Indy. It was only for one lap in the case of Jordan (in Brazil - and when it counted) and Sauber (in the US). So, what has been the fans’ verdict?

Question: Are the new F1 rules working?
Definitely - 42%
Some are - 22%
Too soon to tell - 20%
Not sure - 8%
No way! - 5%
Most aren’t - 3%
Number of votes: 76

The majority are in favour. Do you agree? Let’s have those views on the message board.