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London - Former F1 driver David Coulthard has blamed former FIA boss Max Mosley for making changes to the formula that led to a boring season-opening race in Bahrain.
Mosley, who stood down as president of the governing body last year, after being involved in a public scandal involving prostitutes and being accused of letting his own personality intervene in the application of FIA sanctions, had been the prime mover in introducing a wide range of new rules and regulations for 2010.
Writing in his column in the British Daily Telegraph, Coulthard said: "I hope Max Mosley, watching from his ivory tower after relinquishing his post as president of Formula 1's governing body last autumn, enjoyed the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday."
"Revs limited to 18,000rpm, the ban on in-race refuelling, standardised gearboxes and engines, a single tyre supplier; all initiatives introduced during his tenure at the FIA, all of which appear to have done little for the show if Bahrain is anything to go on. I don't want to sound too melodramatic as I'm sure that given different conditions - rain at Interlagos, say – the race might well have been the classic we all hoped for, but in truth it was processional; a test of reliability rather than racing."
Coulthard also blamed the teams for failing to take the opportunity earlier to make two pit stops during the race mandatory, instead of just one.
"The teams must take their share of the blame as well," said the Scot. "A mandatory two-stop rule was discussed over the winter but some teams felt their machines would go easier on the tyres than others and would not sign up to it. It was a prime example of engineers being unable to put aside their competitive instincts for the greater good. Let's hope they start thinking clearly now."
Formula One's commercial rights holder, Bernie Ecclestone, has cautioned against any reaction before the completion of the first four races.
"There is no panic, no crisis for F1," The Times quoted Ecclestone as saying. "I think there is nothing we can do immediately and we should not just knee-jerk into changes. We're involved in four flyaway races now so let's see how the teams adapt and look at it again after China. The first race with new rules was always going to be a learning curve."
Others in Formula One agree. 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve also urges caution.
"The rules are fine," said the French Canadian. "One race doesn't mean anything. The worst thing would be for sudden changes before everybody is sure what they want."
Former owner of the Toro Rosso team, Gerhard Berger said: "Bahrain was boring but it was the first race and it's too early to make a verdict. I think it will work out."
Mike Gascoyne, technical boss at new team Lotus, whose cars finished 15th and 17th on their debut, said: "What we don't need right now is a knee-jerk reaction. Whatever happens, we must be sure that any changes improve the show."
London - Former F1 driver David Coulthard has blamed former FIA boss Max Mosley for making changes to the formula that led to a boring season-opening race in Bahrain.
Mosley, who stood down as president of the governing body last year, after being involved in a public scandal involving prostitutes and being accused of letting his own personality intervene in the application of FIA sanctions, had been the prime mover in introducing a wide range of new rules and regulations for 2010.
Writing in his column in the British Daily Telegraph, Coulthard said: "I hope Max Mosley, watching from his ivory tower after relinquishing his post as president of Formula 1's governing body last autumn, enjoyed the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday."
"Revs limited to 18,000rpm, the ban on in-race refuelling, standardised gearboxes and engines, a single tyre supplier; all initiatives introduced during his tenure at the FIA, all of which appear to have done little for the show if Bahrain is anything to go on. I don't want to sound too melodramatic as I'm sure that given different conditions - rain at Interlagos, say – the race might well have been the classic we all hoped for, but in truth it was processional; a test of reliability rather than racing."
Coulthard also blamed the teams for failing to take the opportunity earlier to make two pit stops during the race mandatory, instead of just one.
"The teams must take their share of the blame as well," said the Scot. "A mandatory two-stop rule was discussed over the winter but some teams felt their machines would go easier on the tyres than others and would not sign up to it. It was a prime example of engineers being unable to put aside their competitive instincts for the greater good. Let's hope they start thinking clearly now."
Formula One's commercial rights holder, Bernie Ecclestone, has cautioned against any reaction before the completion of the first four races.
"There is no panic, no crisis for F1," The Times quoted Ecclestone as saying. "I think there is nothing we can do immediately and we should not just knee-jerk into changes. We're involved in four flyaway races now so let's see how the teams adapt and look at it again after China. The first race with new rules was always going to be a learning curve."
Others in Formula One agree. 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve also urges caution.
"The rules are fine," said the French Canadian. "One race doesn't mean anything. The worst thing would be for sudden changes before everybody is sure what they want."
Former owner of the Toro Rosso team, Gerhard Berger said: "Bahrain was boring but it was the first race and it's too early to make a verdict. I think it will work out."
Mike Gascoyne, technical boss at new team Lotus, whose cars finished 15th and 17th on their debut, said: "What we don't need right now is a knee-jerk reaction. Whatever happens, we must be sure that any changes improve the show."
