Again it's a confusing bit of FIA race day manipulation, with the run as you qualified parc fermé strategizing never allowing fans to see just which driver/car is actually fastest, as was proven maybe for the last time by Juan Pablo Montoya in his Williams/BMW in the 2002 season, when he dominated qualifying. To be fair, while qualifying now is a yawn-fest comparatively, at least it is possible to witness all the runners on their respective hot laps rather than merely catching the last 10 seconds of your hero scoring pole position, or contrarily wondering why his car is upside down in the tires with various aerodynamic parts strewn across the gravel trap.
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| Unlike the radical changes in 2003, there are no major changes in the rules for 2004. (Photo: Canada GP) |
For 2004 there are no major changes, but for the interest of true F1 fans the rules in all their dry reality, taken directly from the FIA press release with only minor changes made to spelling for jurisdictional purposes, are printed below:
Race Weekend Schedule
Friday
11.00-12.00 Free practice
14.00-15.00 Free practice
During both sessions all teams, other than those who finished in the top four positions of the previous year's World Championship for Constructors, will be permitted to run a third car provided any driver of this car:
- is not one of the team's nominated drivers for the Event in question;
- is in possession of a Super License;
- has not taken place in more than six World Championship Events during the two previous World Championships.
If one of the team's nominated drivers is deemed unable to drive at some stage after the end initial scrutineering, and the stewards agree to a change of driver, the driver of a third car may take part in the remainder of the Event. Under such circumstances a driver who started the Event as a "third" driver would have to continue with the same engine for the remainder of the Event.
The requirements of Article 60 concerning car livery will not apply to the third car being used during these two sessions but will apply should this car be used as the team's spare car during the remainder of the event.