FIA confirms new F1 qualifying system

The plans for a knock-out format were approved by teams in the Strategy Group and F1 Commission on Tuesday.

The ideas will now be looked at in more detail ahead of a vote by the FIA's World Motor Sport Council next week.

The FIA said: "The new system is being evaluated for introduction, potentially as soon as the beginning of the 2016 season."

How it works

As Motorsport.com reported yesterday, the system will retain the idea of three separate qualifying sessions to decide the grid.

Q1

-16 minutes duration;

- After 7 minutes, the slowest driver is eliminated;

- Slowest driver eliminated every 1 minute 30 seconds thereafter until the chequered flag;

- 7 drivers eliminated, 15 progress to Q2.

Q2

- 15 minutes duration;

- After 6 minutes, slowest driver eliminated;

- Slowest driver eliminated every 1 minute 30 seconds thereafter until the chequered flag;

- 7 drivers eliminated, 8 progress to Q3.

Q3

- 14 minutes;

- After 5 minutes, slowest driver eliminated;

- Slowest driver eliminated every 1 minute 30 seconds thereafter until the chequered flag;

- 2 drivers left in final 1 minute 30 seconds.

The final elimination in each session occurs at the chequered flag – not when time is up.

Ecclestone happy

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone supported the move, which he thinks will deliver more excitement for fans.

"The idea really is that it will be the same as qualifying in wet conditions," he told Reuters. "Maybe one or two of the hotshoes aren't going to make it (to the front). So we won't see the obvious on the front of the grid.