New lap time rule "made things worse" in shambolic qualifying - Renault

Renault

New lap-time rule "made things worse" in shambolic qualifying - Renault

Multiple cars were seen racing each other during the final Q1 runs

Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale

Saturday 5 September 2020 19:09 Updated: 19:14

Renault drivers Daniel Ricciardo and Esteban Ocon believe the new rule brought in overnight to introduce a maximum slow-lap time made traffic worse during qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix.

Ocon was initially involved in a skirmish with Alfa Romeo's Kimi Raikkonen at the end of Q1, with the Finn almost losing his front wing as multiple cars ran side-by-side into turn one, ruining lap times.

The maximum-time rule was introduced by the FIA in a bid to discourage drivers from slowing towards the end of a lap and causing potentially dangerous situations with competitors arriving at full speed on flying laps.

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But Ocon believes the directive only "made things worse", stating the issue will be reviewed at the next drivers' briefing.

"We were very much racing for position," he explained of his battle with Raikkonen.

The Frenchman, who starts from 12th, added: "I think the new rule, obviously, on the delta that we have to follow for not going too slow made things worse than what it was before.

"We need to review, obviously, at the next drivers' briefing what we can do better. It was intended to not have these sort of issues, to not have people slowing down for no reason.

"But we have to make a gap at some point to make a lap, and we didn't have a chance to do that because we couldn't slow down.

"It made it a bit tricky for everyone and I think that is why some cars were racing. In the end, nothing really happened.

'But Kimi started his lap too close to me so he was trying to pass me. If that was the case, both of our laps would have been ruined. Obviously, his was but I still managed to complete mine even if it was not an improvement."

Ricciardo was the first man to return to the track at the end of Q2, opting to try and set a lap time in clear air, only to run wide at the second chicane and fail to improve.

Ricciardo, who at least made it into Q3 and starts seventh, has suggested the issues may have been created due to a lack of driver etiquette.

"It was certainly sketchy at times," said Ricciardo.

"I saw from FP3 Lewis [Hamilton] had a big scare. I think they are trying to respect the minimum lap time.

"It feels like it should work but the problem is you still have people trying to overtake in the last corner and back off too much.

"Most of the time, there is a bit of driver etiquette where we say 'Whatever position we are in at the last corner, we hold it'.

"But around here it seems like some cars wanted to be two seconds behind for the tow, some wanted to be five seconds, so it is hard. I don't know if there is an answer for it right now."

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