Criticism towards the new qualifying format

The new qualifying format for the FIA World Touring Car Championship has been met with criticism from some of the series top drivers.
“It will be the first time in my career that I won’t push 100 per cent in qualifying. I am not sure if they can change the regulations in the season, but maybe it’s something they should look at,” said reigning champion Yvan Muller to Autosport.

The new qualifying regulations means that the grid for the second race is decided by reversing top ten drivers from the first qualifying session, Q1.

Muller’s team mate Rob Huff says that the entire Q1 session will be about being 10th fastest and not about going as fast as possible.

“My approach has to be to aim for pole position and if that means finishing 10th in Q1 that’s what I will aim for. Why bother? If they had given us some incentive for trying like 10 points for being fastest, you would [push]. I don’t see any reason why I should hide my approach,” said Huff.

The qualifying format was changed because drivers dropped positions in order to finish eight in the first race, which last year ment pole position for the second race. Chevrolet-driver Alain Menu was for example penalized twice last year for dropping positions.