F1 loses Sunday warm-up

F1 loses Sunday warm-up

The only Sunday action now will be the race itself

Formula One bosses have confirmed the scrapping of Sunday warm-ups as part of their controversial rule changes for the new season.

The change is incorporated in the official 2003 race schedule, which was ratified by the International Automobile Federation (FIA) on Friday.

The release of the schedule comes just 24 hours after the Williams and McLaren teams said they would challenge the new rules.

It confirms the new single-lap qualifying format, with hour-long sessions on Friday and Saturday.

2003 F1 calendar in full

And the Sunday warm-up, which allowed teams a half-hour run to fine-tune settings before the race, has been phased out.

The timetable also includes for the first time a special two-hour Friday morning session for those teams who have agreed to limit testing during the season.

FIA president Max Mosley had indicated last week that the Sunday warm-up would be scrapped.

Smaller teams back FIA

It is one of several rule changes, which include banning refuelling between Saturday's qualifying and the race.

The new rules are designed to liven up races after a season of dwindling television audiences and Ferrari domination, and to cut costs for teams struggling to raise sponsorship.

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The new timetable is as follows (local times):

Friday:
0830-1030 - Private session for those teams who have signed up for limited testing during the season (Renault, Jaguar, Jordan and Minardi so far).
1100-1200 - Free practice.
1400-1500 - First qualifying practice (fastest runs last in Saturday's session).

Saturday:
0900-0945 - Free practice.
1015-1100 - Free practice.
1330-1345 - Warm-up practice session.
1400-1500 - Second qualifying.

Sunday:
1400 - Race start, except for Malaysia (1500), Canada (1300), Britain (1300), United States (1300) and Japan (1430).