The modified qualifying format tested during the weekend and set to be repeated later this season is facing doubts about its post-Hungary debut.
“It’s been horrible,” said Fernando Alonso from Aston Martin.
Many others in the F1 paddock share similar sentiments, suggesting that taking away two sets of tyres per driver and imposing certain compound choices in the three phases of qualifying might not have been a successful experiment.
Toto Wolff, Mercedes boss, described the experience as “strange.”
“I generally think that experimenting with a new qualifying format in the middle of the season is not a good idea,” he added.
Wolff supports the idea of saving tyres for environmental reasons, although he believes reducing two sets per driver “doesn’t change much.”
Carlos Sainz, Ferrari driver, commented, “Practice was very boring because there are no tyres, and we can’t drive.
“We got here on Wednesday, and on Friday and Saturday, we couldn’t drive. So it doesn’t work for me.”
Frederic Vasseur, the boss at Ferrari, was reluctant to use the format change as a reason for complaints.
“The new format has nothing to do with it,” he said after Charles Leclerc qualified sixth. “It’s the same for everyone.
“Alfa Romeo hasn’t brought any updates yet they took a big step forward. It’s a lesson for everyone to optimize the package as best as possible.”
Alonso from Aston Martin agrees with Wolff that mid-season rule changes should be avoided.
“When you change the height of the net, or the size of the basketball ring or the soccer ball in the middle of the championship, it’s always something that’s not pretty,” he told Spanish reporters in Hungary.
Alonso believes Pirelli’s recent tyre construction change has also helped some teams but hurt others.
“Have some teams gained half a second? Or have half a second been taken from some teams?” he wondered.
“Alfa Romeo haven’t overtaken anyone. When we get to Spa and Alfa Romeo is still in front, then we’ll talk. This is one qualifying.
“I don’t want to make an excuse with the tyres, but I think Red Bull can’t be very happy either,” Alonso added. “They were first and second in every session and practice until Silverstone.
“I think they haven’t been first in any practice here,” he said. “Now they don’t even take pole position, and Checo (Perez) is fighting to be in Q3.
“So there are certain teams that have clearly lost performance with the new tyres,” Alonso added.
“Now, not having tyres for practice has been very bad for the show,” he continued. “If you pay 400 or 500 euros and the cars don’t run, I suppose it’s very good for pollution, but for the public, it’s definitely not so good.”
Liberty Media clearly has no clue, still trying to attract fake fans and more interest with their in season perplexing rule changes in the name of sustainability. They are more concerned about selling $5m VIP Ticket packages at their pathetic fake events in Miami and Las Vegas. Couple that with the apparent new found inability to run a race in the rain any longer makes one think doesn’t it? It’s sad to say but isn’t F1 trying to become the next NASCAR? It sure looks like it from the outside.