Categories: F1 News, Reports and Race ResultsOpinion

Aim of F1 qualifying change was forgotten - Ecclestone

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Bernie Ecclestone says people forgot the main reason why F1 changed its qualifying format this season, following a u-turn ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix.

In February it was announced the qualifying format would change, with an elimination-style qualifying system introduced which would see drivers knocked out at regular intervals. The system proved unpopular with fans and teams alike, resulting in a political standoff as the teams wanted to revert to last year's system but the FIA and Ecclestone wanted a new proposal considered.

F1 set to revert to 2015 qualifying format

Eventually, Ecclestone and the FIA have conceded a return to the 2015 format is best, following a letter from the teams. However, Ecclestone says there was good reason for trying to tweak qualifying in the first place.

"People seem to forget what we are trying to do, which is muddle the grid up a little bit because what we have seen doesn't make for much excitement," Ecclestone told Autosport.

"Lewis [Hamilton] has helped us a bit this season by not making good starts and having to come through the field, and Ferrari finally seems to have got his act together, so maybe things will change.

"Unless we can get everybody on board with regard to a new format then we are not going to find an answer. It's as simple as that."

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Andrew Lewin

Andrew first became a fan of Formula 1 during the time when Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill were stepping into the limelight after the era of Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Aryton Senna. He's been addicted ever since, and has been writing about the sport now for nearly a quarter of a century for a number of online news sites. He's also written professionally about GP2 (now Formula 2), GP3, IndyCar, World Rally Championship, MotoGP and NASCAR. In his other professional life, Andrew is a freelance writer, social media consultant, web developer/programmer, and digital specialist in the fields of accessibility, usability, IA, online communities and public sector procurement. He worked for many years in magazine production at Bauer Media, and for over a decade he was part of the digital media team at the UK government's communications department. Born and raised in Essex, Andrew currently lives and works in south-west London.