Formula 1 Considering Changes To Qualifying

Formula 1 Managing Dir Ross Brawn said that F1 is "considering changing qualifying" by "possibly expanding it to four stages from three," but nothing has been agreed for next season, according to Alan Baldwin of REUTERS. The aim would be to "create more excitement for fans and greater unpredictability." Brawn: "The qualifying format has now been well established for several years, apart from the unsuccessful experiment at the start of 2016, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't look at ways of improving it." He added that a recent meeting of the sport's Strategy Group considered the four-part idea, in which four drivers would be eliminated in the first three phases with eight competing for pole in the final one "rather than five in the first two and then 10 in the third." Brawn said, "No agreement was reached on introducing it for 2019 but the seeds of discussion were planted, now we have to make sure they grow well" (REUTERS, 10/2).