Senna calls for two-tier qualifying in Monaco

Published>Fri, May 07 10 02:28 AM

Formula One's new teams should qualify among themselves at next week's Monaco Grand Prix so as not to pose a danger to other drivers, Brazilian rookie Bruno Senna suggested on Thursday.

Senna, nephew of the late triple world champion Ayrton who was a multiple winner on the streets of the Mediterranean principality, said he would raise the issue at a drivers' meeting on Friday at the Spanish Grand Prix.

The all-new teams -- Hispania, Virgin Racing and Lotus -- are several seconds slower than the established ones and would be expected to fill the slots at the back of the grid under normal conditions.

"We have to discuss this with (race director) Charlie (Whiting), how are we going to do it," Senna told reporters in the ageing Hispania (HRT) motorhome that previously belonged to now-defunct Jordan and Super Aguri.

"It's not a bad idea to be honest if they take maybe six or eight cars from the group of the... slowest cars and then the other guys go in a different qualifying session, it will probably be a good idea for both," he added.

"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.

"This is something that I am just making up right now. I am going to suggest this to them and see what they think, it's up to the (governing) FIA," added Senna.

"The eight slowest from the aggregate of the practice sessions could be a good indicator."

Other drivers, with quick and slow cars, backed the idea.

"I would think that somehow the FIA should think to split us," said Lotus's Italian Jarno Trulli. "I don't know how to approach it but I think 24 cars on track (in Monaco) is going to be hard. It's really going to be hard."

Renault's Robert Kubica said qualifying would certainly be even more of a challenge in the tight streets where overtaking is barely possible.

"This year with three teams who are at a much slower pace, it will be much more difficult," the Pole told reporters.

"I have been racing in Monaco before with split qualifying and there are some advantages and some disadvantages, but for sure we will need some solutions.

"On the other hand, it will be very difficult to get everybody happy with one solution, so I think it is a bit of a difficult topic."

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