Ricciardo: F1 drivers not consulted over qualifying changes

Daniel Ricciardo says Formula 1's drivers are becoming frustrated over potential changes to a race weekend that those in action are not being consulted about.

It has been confirmed recently that F1 is exploring the possibility of replacing qualifying with a sprint race to decide the grand prix's starting grid in 2020.

It has been reported that any change would only be made at a handful of races to test the waters, with the sprint-race grid to be decided by reversing the order of the drivers' championship.

But Ricciardo says the drivers are not being asked for their opinion about the matter, with many expressing opposition to the plans in recent days in Singapore and Russia.

"That's something which us as drivers are sometimes pretty frustrated about," Ricciardo said of the plans.

"Things will get put in front of us [by the media] - 'they [the rulemakers] are talking about this, they're actually fairly deep into this discussion' - and we're like, well, why haven't we been told about this?

"That's why we've been trying to put in more of a team effort, the last few years, to make sure we are involved a lot more.

"Because over the years some things have been decided without addressing us drivers - and, you know, whether we're paying the bills or not, we are the core of the whole show.

"Especially if it's something that we feel strongly on, then I think our opinion is more valuable than really anyone else's. I think we're making progress, but they don't always like to involve us - in the past they haven't."

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