To Fuel or Not to Fuel - That is the Question

[Rory]

OK guys - one for the old timers amongst us. Would F1 be a better spectacle if the rules were to change back to the 80's.... ie, start the race on the tank of fuel you're going to finish on, and a 1 hour qualifying shoot out to see who gets pole?

My own personal opinion is that Ferrari's incredulous demands to introduce fuel pitstops (they couldn't run on heavy fuel loads) has made F1 a poor relation to what we used to have 20 years ago. There's so much confusion now what with umpteen pit stops, umpteen strategies and qualifying is largely nullified as we never know who's doing what for the race (this 3 stage setup is ugly, dull and boring).

Come on Ecclestone - if you want to look at an entertaining motorsport on which to base your business plan on, look no further than MotoGP or Superbikes. And while we're at it, can we get back to F1 on BBC2 with Murray Walker's dulcit tones across the airwaves and 'The Chain' bellowing out and making the hairs on the back of my neck stand up!