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The Whisper is that the FIA has cut the final session of Qualifying to 15 mins

That is true Julian, a number of changes have been proposed and put to a fax vote. If the changes are agreed to, the changes affecting the 2006 Sporting Regulations will take effect from the French Grand Prix

The major changes are:

2006 Season

The three qualifying periods will be 15 minutes each and for each session a driver who starts a lap right at the end of the session may complete it and the time will count.

Previously during the first two sessions, drivers had to complete the lap before the end of the session for the time to count.
The final session used to be 20 minutes.

There are another couple of minor changes relating to certain time limits and not allowing a drive through (or a stop go) penalty to be taken if the safety car is deployed.

2007 Season

No more third cars for teams who rank 5th or lower in the previous years championship

Tyre supplier will provide 2 different compounds to all the teams. This means identical tyres will be supplied to all teams.
Currently the tyre supplier can supply 2 different compounds to each team.

The michelin runners are going to be severley affected by the change over to Bridgestones next year. Will the tyre supplier/FIA try to reduce this by getting the new compounds to them, (and the others) this season for testing purposes? Or are we going to see Renault et al struggling for the first few races? I would think that the current B runners are getting plenty of characteristic data on the new compounds/casings already

Well if Bridgestone build a tyre for Ferrari and give it to the rest then everyone except Ferrari will be in trouble.

But since they are the sole suppliers from next year, they wouldn't really care which team wins so maybe they'll build a tyre for Toyota

I actually don't think that Renault or McLaren will struggle on Bridgestone for too long. They are top teams

Like ferrari in 2005 ?

Julian Mayo wrote:Like ferrari in 2005 ?

Huh ? Where are the similarities ???? I thought the main problem was the short lasting Bridgestones and some major design problems with the Ferrari early in the season (a gearbox with no spare parts comes to mind )

If you want to compare, look back when Goodyear pulled out and everyone had to use Bridgestone

JayVee wrote:

Julian Mayo wrote:Like ferrari in 2005 ?

Huh ? Where are the similarities ???? I thought the main problem was the short lasting Bridgestones and some major design problems with the Ferrari early in the season (a gearbox with no spare parts comes to mind )

If you want to compare, look back when Goodyear pulled out and everyone had to use Bridgestone

My memory doesn' quite go back that far

The World Motor Sport Council has approved the above proposed changes by fax vote.

So from the French Grand Prix this weekend, all the qualifying sessions will be 15 minutes long
Also drivers will be able to start timed laps right till the end of all 3 sessions. Previously this applied only to the last session.

Makes more sense than the fuel burning they were doing before. Nice to see they are thinking of what is actually good for the sport for a change.

They will still burn fuel but for 5 minutes less.

The only way to make the 3rd session only about flying laps is if they allow refuelling for the race but that won't happen this season.