New qualifying a bore for Head

The new qualifying format may have resulted in a few surprising grid positions at the Australian Grand Prix, but Williams technical director Patrick Head found it boring to watch. From this year each driver will take to the track on his own and have one flying lap to set a time.

While it provides more to watch for television viewers -- and gets the approval of sponsors as their cars may have a few minutes uninterrupted screen time -- Head thinks for those at the track it was not so great.

"I think it is a bit of a bore," he said, according to news agency Ananova. "But people connected with television say it's good news because sometimes (with the previous qualifying system) you could go 25 minutes into the session and all you get on the track is the odd Minardi or something. I think for the television viewers it's got to be better -- for the people at the track I think it's a bit dull."

Qualifying was just one of many new regulations introduced by the FIA this year and Head thinks that no more changes should be made until teams have had time to adjust to the current ones.

"Leaping from one thing to another is difficult," he remarked. "It should go half a season at least before modifying it again. The teams are flat out adjusting to the changes that were imposed on them as it is. We've got massive changes and very expensive and labour intensive changes imposed for Silverstone. We have got to be out testing with those changes."

The FIA and team bosses are due to meet and discuss how the new regulations have affected the sport after the Brazilian Grand Prix. It's possible yet more changes will be made as some team members are still unhappy with rules such as no refueling between qualifying and race.

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?

Take our 5 minute survey.

- The Motorsport.com Team

Read and post comments