Under pressure from TV broadcasters and many of those within the paddock, it's understood that Bernie Ecclestone is considering changing the proposed qualifying format for 2005.

Since 2002 when Ferrari absolutely blew away the opposition (so what's changed?), the qualifying format has undergone a number of changes in an attempt to 'spice up' the show. For the most part they have failed.

Sadly, rather than reverting to the old format, when drivers completed a maximum of twelve laps in a one-hour free for all, Bernie and his pals have strayed even further off track, proposing that in 2005 qualifying should be held over two days, with the aggregate times deciding the grid order. Once again, as in 2003 and 2004, the sessions would consist of single 'hot laps'.

However, because Saturday's session doesn't really decide anything, there is no reason for broadcasters to cover the session, which will effectively reduce each Grand Prix to a one-day event.

Furthermore, with the second qualifying session separated from the race by just a couple of hours, the media will be unable, and unwilling, to give much coverage to the Sunday session, leaving it - in terms of media interest - redundant.

Previously, with the grid decided on the Saturday, the media could give plenty of coverage to the fact, building up anticipation, and hopefully audience interest, in Sunday's main event. This will not be possible under the proposed format.

With global F1 TV audiences down by 5% in 2004 (on 2003), broadcasters are seriously concerned that the proposed format will cause the sport to lose even more viewers. One of the few countries that actually gained viewers in 2004 was the United States, up 17% on 2003, while Finland lost 26% of its viewers and Britain 15%, despite Jenson Button's success.

Despite the vast sums of money involved, and the sheer technical genius of many of those in the pitlane, there are times when Formula One appears to be run by a group of people that couldn't organize the proverbial piss-up in a brewery.

The Japanese Grand Prix was a one-off, a freak. Just because moving qualifying worked on a Sunday once, doesn't mean it will happen again.

Will the team bosses for once stop mouthing sound-bites about entertaining "the fans", and spent some time looking at a few website forums.

The current format isn't working, the proposed format is rubbish and the sport cannot go on believing that it knows best. Listen and learn, before it's too late.