Drivers are to ask the FIA to consider splitting the first qualifying session in Monaco due to traffic concerns on the tight and twisty track as a one-off.
The 3.3km track is one of the shortest, slowest and narrowest on the calendar, which presents a problem when faster drivers want to pass slower cars, such as those of newcomers Hispania, Lotus and Virgin.
The idea would involve eliminating the top teams from the session as they are all but guaranteed to get through to Q2. That would allow the slower teams to compete without the worry of quicker teams steaming up behind them and possibly causing an accident.
Hispania’s Bruno Senna will put the idea forward to the FIA’s Charlie Whiting: “We have to discuss this with Charlie, how are we going to do it – especially with qualifying,” he told Autosport. “There are a few things we need to go through with Charlie tomorrow and perhaps in Monaco after first practice.
“The idea of splitting the field is not a bad one to be honest. If they take six or eight cars from the group of the fastest cars, or slowest cars, and the other guys go in a different qualifying, it will probably be a good idea for both people.
“We don’t want someone much faster than us coming to overtake us, and they don’t want to be every lap getting someone slower. Let’s see how the time schedules go. I suppose it would be possible.”
Both Jarno Trulli and Robert Kubica are also concerned about the traffic problems which could be experienced in Monaco and agree that splitting qualifying could be a good solution.
