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Button predicts confusion for fans

Jenson Button thinks the new no refueling between qualifying and race rule will make things confusing for the fans and spoil their enjoyment. With no refueling, there will be more uncertainty in what teams are doing in the way of strategy: whether ...

Jenson Button thinks the new no refueling between qualifying and race rule will make things confusing for the fans and spoil their enjoyment. With no refueling, there will be more uncertainty in what teams are doing in the way of strategy: whether to run light in qualifying and risk an early stop in the race, or qualify heavy and have a longer first stint. Button believes it will stop drivers going all out, as more will opt for a heavy fuel load in qualifying.

Jenson Button.
Photo by British American Racing.
"The fuel situation is going to make it very confusing for the spectators and, I think, spoil it for them," he told the British press. "They like to see drivers on the limit, which is what qualifying should be about, but very few will be on light fuel from now on."

"Everybody is in the dark, and I don't think that is a good thing. Apart from those who might want to look good in qualifying and get to the front of the grid for commercial reasons, most are going to be thinking about the race. I suppose it will all come together eventually, but it looks as though everybody is going to go with two stops in the race."

McLaren's David Coulthard also recently expressed a similar opinion as Button in regard to refueling: "Racing was better with no refueling because you were all on the same strategy," he said. "It's too confusing for fans to try and figure out strategy with refueling -- good racing is what happens on the track, not what happens on the pit wall."

While some fans may find the situation confusing, as they try and figure out race strategy, others will be just as happy with the unpredictability it will bring. However, once a few races have been run and teams get used to the new regulation, strategy will be probably be easier to predict.

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