Force India's Sergio Perez is concerned the new qualifying format will be "more boring", especially at the end of Q3.
In the weeks leading up to the Australian Grand Prix F1 bosses agreed to change the way the grid is set for a race, opting for live elimination within an altered Q1-Q2-Q3 format. The new rules will see one driver get eliminated at 90-second intervals, meaning there could be more emphasis on getting an early lap in.
With each driver limited to 13 sets of tyres through a race weekend -- three of which are set aside for qualifying or the race by Pirelli -- Perez does not think the new format lends itself to drivers attempting multiple runs.
"I think, in Q3, you're going to have the last three minutes probably a bit more boring than in the past, because people are pushed to go early," Perez said."For example, for us, if we're into Q3, we're going be just with a single set of tyres so we'll have to go early. We will not have the usual stuff from the past, when you used to see two or three cars right at the last minute. I hope not, but I think you're going lose a bit of that in Q3, which was the most interesting session for the fans."
McLaren driver Jenson Button, the most experienced man on the grid, has his own reservations about the new format, though he welcomes the advantage it might give some teams further down the order.
"Personally I've always felt qualifying is the least of our problems in the sport. Small change, it makes it interesting for the people who do their homework and do a better job preparing, same as the engineers not being able to feed us information. Same thing -- people will make mistakes for the first few races and then it will be back to normal. Just make sure you do a good job. Might help us for the first few races, I think it's tougher for the guys at the front, especially the qualifying format because they can't just wait until the last moment of Q1 and then do a lap, they have to push."