F1’s elimination qualifying format will be ditched immediately with the old system to be used from the Bahrain Grand Prix onwards.

A meeting of team managers on Sunday morning in Melbourne led to unanimous agreement to revert back to the previous qualifying format - featuring Q1, Q2 and Q3 with no elimination until the chequered flag - from Bahrain.

The new format was introduced at the start of this season, with cars being eliminated at 90-second intervals until after an initial short period of running. Despite warning from the drivers when the idea was first suggested, the new format made its debut at the Australian Grand Prix and delivered farcical scenes on Saturday.

Little running took place towards the end of Q2 as drivers were unable to fit in second runs or knew they couldn’t improve sufficiently, and pole position was decided long before the end of Q3. The poor spectacle led to criticism from fans and drivers alike, with Toto Wolff saying on Saturday night the target should be a change by the second race in Bahrain.

Christian Horner was also scathing of the new system, saying F1 should apologise to the fans for the display it provided in Australia on Saturday.

As it happened: Qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix

F1i's Australian Grand Prix preview

2016 F1 season: Team-by-team preview

Eric Silbermann

Recent Posts

Russell slams FIA's deafening silence as GPDA frustrations mount

In a pointed critique that underscores growing tensions between Formula 1 drivers and the sport's…

1 hour ago

‘I’m next in line’: Isack Hadjar’s bid to join Formula 1

Red Bull junior and FIA F2 driver Isack Hadjar is seldom mentioned as a contender…

15 hours ago

Sky F1’s Croft baffled by 'crazy' Wittich ousting

Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft has admitted to being shocked by the FIA’s sudden…

17 hours ago

Wolff fires another shot at Horner: ‘You can’t rely on what he says’

Toto Wolff has taken a pointed jab at his Red Bull counterpart Christian Horner over…

18 hours ago

Williams rebuild effort for Las Vegas proves ‘what team is made of'

Williams sporting director Sven Smeets has hailed the team’s herculean effort to rebuild two wrecked…

20 hours ago

Young Senna caps off banner year in Macau

Today's trip down memory lane takes us back to the 1983 Macau Grand Prix which…

21 hours ago