Sainz: F1 should go back to one-shot qualifying

Carlos Sainz believes that Formula One should reintroduce the one-shot qualifying system last used in 2003. The Renault driver added that he felt that the drivers should be challenged in a format that incorporates the older style and the current elimination system.

Talks behind the scenes at the top of F1 about reinvigorating the format of a race weekend have been taking place in recent months with qualifying an aspect that has been heavily discussed behind closed doors.

The introduction of a Q4 was met with a largely negative response from the drivers, however Sainz is an advocate for the session with a few additional tweaks to the session.

He explained that a system in which drivers are given enough sets of tyres for one lap per session would spice up the order and add an element of the unknown into the qualifying hour, with the elimination system staying in place.

“I would like to see that (a Q4) but only with one set of tyres per session,” Sainz is quoted by Motorsport Week.

“Don’t give the drivers a second set of tyres, have to do it one time per session. I think the pressure would be higher.

“Your speciality as a driver is putting a lap together in Q1, straightaway in Q2, and not sandbagging like a lot of drivers are in Q1, and then give it all out in Q2, or give it all out in Q3.

“If you have only one chance you put a lot of beans and concentration into that one lap.”