F1's Stupid New Qualifying Format Can't Even Be Implemented Yet

Remember the silly new qualifying format that was recently confirmed for the F1 2016 season? Well, it won’t be used in Australia. Or the following three races, for that matter.

F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone says the new system has been delayed to the Spanish Grand Prix, round five, as the new format won’t be ready in time for the new season.

With the rule being announced and decided so close to the first round, there simply wasn’t enough time to sort the software and system out. Which begs the question, why say yes to it for 2016 anyway?

Timing is the responsibility of Formula One Management (FOM) and not the FIA, but while the rule may have been discussed for a while, confirmation only came very recently.

Ecclestone told The Independent:

“The new qualifying won’t happen because we can’t get everything together in time. It was going to come in at the start of this year but we are not going to be able to get all the software done in time.”

“So 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.”

He even went on to say he doesn’t like the new elimination-style format, where over the three sessions drivers gradually drop out of qualifying.

“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?”

Yeah, not a great start for this bizarre new regulation and format. Surely it would have been better just to bring it in for 2017, as the current system is just fine.