David Coulthard praises the FIA’s decision to reduce energy management in qualifying at Suzuka

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The FIA have finally taken some action against the new F1 regulations in light of concerns over energy management at the Japanese Grand Prix, and David Coulthard has pinpointed exactly why the changes made to qualifying are a good thing for the sport.

Following the conclusion of the first day of practice at the Japanese Grand Prix, every engine manufacturer on the grid congregated to unanimously vote in favour of reducing the allowed energy harvesting for each lap in qualifying from nine megajoules to eight.

F1 fans were furious after seeing Max Verstappen super clipping through 130R during FP1 on Friday afternoon, and the amendment aims to crack down on exactly that.

The change will see drivers manage a lower battery capacity during Saturday’s shootout, which will hopefully put an end to any lift-and-coast tactics in the midst of what should be the fastest session of the weekend.

• READ MORE: Kimi Antonelli tops Japanese Grand Prix FP3 after Lando Norris suffers another McLaren issue

David Coulthard explains why the FIA’s change to qualifying in Japan is ‘a good thing’

During an interview with 24ur, David Coulthard was asked for his thoughts on the FIA’s decision to amend the amount of allowable energy harvesting during qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix.

The 13-time Grand Prix praised the action from the sport’s governing body, using an example from the season-opener in Melbourne to pinpoint exactly why things needed to change.

He said, “I think it’s a good thing, because watching George Russell take pole position in Melbourne, but by arriving at one of the fastest sequences of corners and lifting, harvesting energy, entering the corner slower, and then having more deployment on the exit, therefore gaining more lap time.

“This is not what my feeling of Formula 1 has always been. I grew up watching Ayrton Senna qualifying absolutely on the limit, into the corner, at the middle of the corner, at the exit of the corner. Man and machine in perfect harmony.

Mercedes had a 0.8s gap over their rivals in FP3 😮‍💨 Can anyone challenge them in Suzuka?

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“It’s like watching someone do a ski jump, and they go further and further. You’re seeing something remarkable, you’re witnessing history being made. Or if someone’s doing downhill and they’re going so fast that you cannot comprehend how they have the skill to ski at that speed.

“This is what inspires people. This is what pushes humans to want to be better. And I think that Formula 1 needs to be drivers taking the cars as fast as they can go around the corner.”

• READ MORE: Lando Norris now on the cusp of a grid penalty as McLaren face more battery issues at Japanese GP

Charles Leclerc echoed David Coulthard’s comments, but said they won’t be a ‘game changer’

Members of the F1 grid had their say on the matter following the announcement that the rulebook will be amended for the proceedings this weekend at Suzuka, with the overwhelming sentiment being a positive one.

Charles Leclerc echoed Coulthard’s verdict on it being a good thing overall, while also being hesitant to claim it will end all energy management issues. He told journalists via Sky Sports, “I don’t think it will be a game-changer.

“I think it will be pretty similar, apart from for the driver where maybe there’s a little bit less lift and coast, which is a good thing.”

Reigning world champion Lando Norris shared a similar viewpoint. He said, “It’s different. I need to go out and drive with it first. I think it will eliminate some things, and it will shift around some other bits.

“I think the thing is, you also have tracks where it will be better. Some tracks it will work and be a much better thing, some tracks it won’t change too much.

“So it should be a little bit better here. It’s not like it’s going to change the whole world.”