No decision reached over F1 qualifying change

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A meeting of key F1 stakeholders in Bahrain has failed to reach a decision on changes to the qualifying format.

Following the largely negative response to the new elimination qualifying format in both Australia and Bahrain, the teams met with Bernie Ecclestone, FIA president Jean Todt and representatives from Pirelli at midday on Sunday to discuss whether to keep the new format or make changes.

Todt said on Saturday morning he was "optimistic" an agreement would be reached, with all options open in terms of changes. However, Sunday saw an impasse with some parties reluctant to revert to the 2015 format.

The meeting in the Bahrain paddock went on for 90 minutes but produced no agreement, with a proposal being tabled for the teams to assess and vote on Thursday.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner suggested the new proposal would focus on qualifying "perhaps with an aggregate time of two laps rather than a single lap."

Attempts from the teams to revert back to the 2015 qualifying format were blocked by the FIA and Ecclestone.

"We’re unified in that we need to make changes to the existing system that we have," Claire Williams said after leaving the meeting, having declined to reveal details of the proposal. "It’s far too early days to know what the result of that proposal and everyone’s analysis of it will be."

Ahead of the meeting, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff had said: "If somebody puts a block in the system to make us stuck we should publicly crucify him in the paddock."

REPORT: Hamilton pips Rosberg to Bahrain pole by 0.077s

AS IT HAPPENED: Bahrain Grand Prix qualifying

Breakfast with ... Sonia Irvine

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