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

F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone says the new qualifying format has been delayed as they can’t implement it for the first race of the 2016 season
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?

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

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.”

Image source: Mercedes
Image source: Mercedes

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.

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Comments

Adrian Rivero

I want to see all the cars running in qualyfing, and not one hot lap and “fk this st, I’m out” and go to the pits. But they must to plan something to don’t put in a hurry to the teams as 1 or 2 more engines for car at the season and 1 o 2 more tyre sets per weekend

02/27/2016 - 21:03 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

Software won’t be done in time? Seriously who do they employ as software developers, Bernie?

02/27/2016 - 21:06 |
2 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

they employ the CT ios app developers.

02/27/2016 - 21:47 |
31 | 0
LordFokas

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Software developer here… if it sounds simple, it most likely isn’t. Only very rarely something that seems “simple” or “just <insert small feature here>“ is so. And I’m not even talking about bugs, testing, team management and stupid s#%t that drives devs insane (which usually is worse the bigger the organization you’re working with/for).

02/28/2016 - 21:41 |
0 | 0
Bernat Sempere

I have a proposal… 30 minutes and the best time counts, as many attempts as you dare. How difficult is this?

02/27/2016 - 21:15 |
24 | 3

This would make the races even more boring as there would be no overtaking. Everyone would already be in optimum position for their cars.

02/28/2016 - 00:26 |
4 | 0
Anonymous

Just watch Moto Gp instead &#x1F609;&#x1F609;

02/27/2016 - 21:16 |
1 | 1
Kevin B

am I the only one that think it is a good idea ? It would add some chaos and force the teams to drive more. It is pretty exciting

02/27/2016 - 21:27 |
10 | 3

bullshit

02/27/2016 - 21:39 |
2 | 3
Niccolò Guerrini

In reply to by Kevin B

F1 should not be about chaos, it should about fast cars! And the idea the the pole posistion is not occupied by the fastest car/driver in a circuit it’s everything that is wrong in f1… And the idea that the cars would make more laps with this concept is wrong! We’ll see the fastest make one great lap at the beginning of the first 2 sessions and then stay in box… With the number of sets of tire restricted no one does more laps than he needs

02/27/2016 - 23:15 |
2 | 1

Guys who sit on pole will still sit on pole.

02/28/2016 - 02:02 |
1 | 0

Let me guess, you like nascar and you like the new yellow flag system.

02/28/2016 - 03:53 |
0 | 1
Kaspars

I have a proposal… dump this 3 session bullshit, and return to old format.

02/27/2016 - 21:41 |
3 | 1

The old one had 3 sessions too.

02/29/2016 - 00:09 |
0 | 0
Adam Warner

This new F1 format is all the rage.

02/27/2016 - 21:58 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

Why the hell bother with multiple session anyways? Give 60 minutes and best time counts.

02/27/2016 - 22:07 |
3 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

The point is to get rid of the slower cars giving the faster cars more space on track to go even faster

02/28/2016 - 10:11 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

muddle up the grid…well why don’t just make up the starting grid by random selection, no qualifying at all, that’s good for cost saving too

02/27/2016 - 23:08 |
1 | 0
Griffin Mackenzie

Why not just postpone the qualifying

02/28/2016 - 00:51 |
0 | 0