New Formula One qualifying rules delayed till May 2016

The new eliminative qualifying format in Formula One has been delayed till May 2016 at the Spanish Grand Prix.

At a time when Formula One is struggling to maintain its credibility to spectators, the governing body of the sport, the FIA has been trying to introduce new rules to make the sport more exciting for the spectators on ground and for the viewers watching at home.

Recently, the FIA has decided that the near perfect qualifying formula needed a tweak with a gradual elimination structure. In brief, the similar Q1, Q2 and Q3 sessions remain but the changes include a 16 min Q1 session where after 7 mins, the slowest drivers will be eliminated every 90 second intervals. Followed by Q2, a 15 mins session in which at the 6 min mark, eliminations will begin at the same intervals. The final 14min Q3 session where after the 5 mins mark, every 90 seconds the slowest driver will be eliminated until the top two drivers remain. Both drivers will then have a 90 second shoot out for pole position.

However, CEO of the Formula One Group, Bernie Ecclestone is reported to have said that implementation of the rules was initially scheduled to begin in Australia, but will take some time as the software is not ready.

Ecclestone said “The new qualifying won't happen because we can't get everything together in time. The qualifying changes will probably be in Spain. In Australia, it will be the old qualifying. All of the software has to be written so it's not easy."

As the new rules would then be introduced at the Spanish Grand Prix, this indicates that the first 4 races, Australia, Bahrain, China and Russia will all feature the existing qualifying system.

Ecclestone added: "It's not what I wanted in the end. All I'm trying to do is muddle up the grid so that the guy that is quickest in qualifying doesn't sit on pole and disappear because why should he be slow in the race if he is quick in qualifying?"

To support that idea, Ecclestone also has confirmed that he wanted time penalties added in order to mix up the grid.

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