Formula One bosses bow to TV demands

FORMULA ONE’S leading team bosses yesterday agreed to follow the demands of television when deciding whether the sport needs to change its controversial qualification system.

The 2004 system, which has two flying-lap sessions taking place back-to-back on the Saturday, was heavily criticised after its first run at the Australian Grand Prix a fortnight ago.

Although McLaren team principal Ron Dennis urged administrators to give the system at least three races before considering a change, he and Frank Williams agreed they would ultimately dance to television’s tune.

However, Dennis insisted that the big teams were “not close-minded to making Formula One better” but stressed the need to avoid a knee-jerk reaction and called for a full analysis to be carried out first.

It took longer to complete qualifying than Michael Schumacher spent completing 58 laps to win the first race of the new season and critics branded it unwieldy and unnecessary.

The first session is seen as virtually irrelevant and of little thrill to supporters and teams alike, with few drivers pushing to the limit for fear of skidding off and missing the genuine qualifying session.

Supremo Bernie Ecclestone was so disappointed that he tried to persuade team bosses to vote for change.