FIA consider solution to avoid repeat of Q2 farce in Sochi

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FIA race director Charlie Whiting admits solutions are being looked at to avoid a repeat of the scenes from Q2 during qualifying for the Russian GP.

With five drivers taking engine penalties in Sochi, the Red Bulls and Pierre Gasly all ran in Q1 but opted to stay in the garage with little point in running for the top 10 shootout.

Amid worries about the use of the Hypersoft tyre for the first stint in the race, Renault then saw P11 and P12 were guaranteed and opted not to run ensuring a free choice of rubber for the start on Sunday.

“I don’t think anyone could have foreseen what happened,” Whiting declared. “When you’ve got five drivers with exactly the same penalty, you then have to establish in what order they are supposed to be.

“I think there is another way, I’ve been talking about it to a few teams. Instead of having cars line up at the pit exit in a rather farcical way, and that sort of thing will only ever get worse, if you have five drivers you will arrange them at the back in the order in which they qualified.

“That would provide some incentive for drivers to actually go and qualify, and try to qualify as high as they could at least.”

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The Briton conceded that the idea may have some unknown "drawbacks", however, and therefore further consultation will take place.

Also requiring more talks is a plan to introduce a four-part qualifying system based mostly on the current format but with four drivers eliminated in the first three segments.

Liberty chief Ross Brawn suggested there was not the unanimous support that would be needed to get the green light for next season, but Whiting is a fan.

“They’ve been doing a lot of research among fans, and they feel this is one of the things that the fans would like," he said.

“Slightly shorter [sessions], slightly shorter time between them, four go out in Q1, four, four, leaving eight.

“I personally think it’s quite a nice idea, but that’s not my decision.”

 

         

 

 

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