Barcelona, Spain - Reversed starting grids, one of several proposals under discussion by Formula One team bosses this week in meetings about the sport's future look and direction, would spell “disaster”, according to Romain Grosjean.
The concept of setting the grid by reversing the order of the top 10 drivers from qualifying, so that the fastest starts 10th, has been discussed previously to make races less predictable.
The usual front-runners would then have to fight through the field rather than pulling clear at the front without being challenged.
Championship points would be awarded for qualifying to give drivers every incentive to chase pole position.
Grosjean, now with the new US-owned Haas F1 team, experienced the reversed format on his way to winning the GP2 feeder series.
“Disaster,” he said when asked about the idea during pre-season testing. “I've been doing it in GP2 and it's probably why you win the title but it's not why you win races.”
Grosjean said making cars harder and more physical to drive, and drivers more susceptible to fatigue and mistakes, would have the same end result in terms of adding to the excitement without being artificial.
“Formula One fans want to see qualifying, they want to see a race, they want to see gladiators fighting with the best cars in the world, being the best drivers, finishing tired and exhausted and having given 100 percent,” he said.
STRONG ENERGY
The French driver, who raced for Lotus in 2015, said he did not like awarding points for qualifying and a recent fan survey had reinforced that.
“The fans are happy with the format as it is, they are happy to see qualifying and a race,” he said.
“I think the format is good. We just want to make sure that we have cars that take physically some really strong energy so then you can see mistakes at the end of the race.”
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said on Monday the sport's commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone was keen on reversing the top 10 qualifiers.
“I'm sure it will be discussed.,” he said. “Whether that will get agreed or not I really don't know; let's see what happens.
“Ecclestone wants to shake things up a bit. He's a promoter, he's got to sell Formula One around the world and he wants it to be the most exciting and spectacular it can possibly be.”
Reuters