MONTE CARLO, 24 May 2005 — Motorsport’s governing body, FIA, yesterday confirmed that a new Grand Prix qualifying process will be introduced from the European Grand Prix on Sunday.
The new qualifying procedure replaces the controversial Sunday qualifying session introduced for the 2005 Formula One season.
In a statement issued in Paris, FIA said that they had reached an agreement with competing teams and the Formula 1 Commission to start the new qualifying procedure.
This will see only one qualifying session on the Saturday afternoon before the race, replacing the two-session that have been held in the first six races this season.
As was the case in 2004, the cars will not be allowed to refuel after the qualifying session. In their statement, FIA said that the starting order for the qualifying session would be the reverse of the finishing order of the previous race (ie winner of last race goes last). It is expected that the change will be widely welcomed by drivers and their teams.
