Formula One strugglers Minardi exploited a loophole in the sport's new rules today in a bid to finish Sunday's season-opening Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park. Minardi's two drivers Jos Verstappen and Justin Wilson obeyed team instructions to pull into the pit lane before completing their flying lap and not register a qualifying time.
Minardi team principal Paul Stoddart said the strategy was designed to avoid new "parc ferme" rules, where cars can only undergo limited work -- and not have any fuel added -- between the end of qualifying and Sunday's race.
From what I can judge this is in fact no loophole at all, and a very good rule. As they were almost certain to be at the back of the grid, it wasa nu use to drive a flying lap. This way, the FIA has foreseen a possibility for the slower teams to give them a chance to perform better that they would normally do in the race.
Being able to have the cars all night, they could load it with fuel, in such a way no other team would, because they would perform badbly in qualifying