FIA approves new elimination-style qualifying format

Formula One racing will implement a new, elimination-style qualifying format for 2016’s opening Grand Prix in Australia after it was approved by the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council on Friday.

How the new qualifying format will work:

The new elimination system retains the idea of three separate qualifying segments to decide the grid, albeit under a changed format as set out below:

Q1

- 16 minutes
- After 7 minutes, slowest driver eliminated
- Slowest driver eliminated every 1 minute 30 seconds thereafter until the chequered flag
- 7 drivers eliminated, 15 progress to Q2

Q2

- 15 minutes
- 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
- Ater 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

In each session, the final elimination will occur at the chequered flag, rather than when the time is up.

The Council also agreed with the recent proposal from the F1 Commission to extend the deadline for the completion of 2017 Sporting and Technical Regulations until April 30, 2016. This will allow all stakeholders the best opportunity to finalise all relevant work - especially with regard to power unit regulations focusing on the four key areas of supply cost, obligation to supply, performance convergence, and further improvement of noise.

Also approved were the 2017 bodywork regulations proposed by the F1 Commission, with early simulations indicating an improvement in lap times of approximately 4-5 seconds on most circuits.