The FIA has confirmed details of the new qualifying format. However the governing body has stressed that it is being “evaluated for introduction, potentially as soon as the beginning of the 2016 season.”
The rules were discussed yesterday by team bosses without any input from engineers or team managers, and there is likely to be some refinement. Some sources have suggested that there was a plan to have a single session – but it was pointed out that TV broadcasters factor ad breaks into the gaps between Q1 and Q2, and Q2 and Q3.
The FIA describes the format as follows:
– Q1
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16 minutes
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After 7 minutes, slowest driver eliminated
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Slowest driver eliminated every 1 minute 30 seconds thereafter until the chequered flag
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7 drivers eliminated, 15 progress to Q2
– Q2
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15 minutes
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After 6 minutes, slowest driver eliminated
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Slowest driver eliminated every 1 minute 30 seconds thereafter until the chequered flag
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7 drivers eliminated, 8 progress to Q3
– Q3
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14 minutes
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After 5 minutes, slowest driver eliminated
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Slowest driver eliminated every 1 minute 30 seconds thereafter until the chequered flag
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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.
Adam Cooper F1 
That sounds fucking stupid.
Agreed. And what happens on a long lap like Spa?
Exactly!
Not strong enough kaleamei. Really fucking stupid is better 🙂
Honestly I didn’t even think my, I would make it on the site. But you are correct sir!
Everything about this idea is wrong!
Yet again Bernie give a bulls**t media interview talking down the sport and making teams think something awful like reverse grids will be forced on them, and they volunteer for something a bit less awful and think they have won.
Have they forgotten that tyre rules are changing this year and that it has the potential to shake up quali and the race. They need to see how that pans out before doing anything.
Who said quali isn’t entertaining? Bernie might not like the outcome but it is an entertaining hour.
Knocking cars out on an ongoing basis means less track time overall.
The knockout format will favour the best performing cars. They will put in a banker lap and then wait until a few of the slower ones have dropped out. The tyres don’t lend themselves to circulating constantly for 10-15 minutes.
Surely no one agreed to the time ballast concept?
If they want to mix up quali (& the grid), cut the practice sessions so they can’t perfect set-up or gather full tyre deg info to inform strategy planning. Scrap Friday altogether. Have one 1.5hr practice on Sat + quali. This would cut costs and helps teams cope with a crowded schedule and with tight logistical timings for back to back events.
The 1m30s thing doesn’t sound like it’ll work. If you suddenly find yourself at the bottom of the pile, you can’t do an unplanned run to try and rescue it…!
Well, I’m glad to see the powers-that-be are serious about simplifying the “terribly complicated” rules of F1.
While I would be willing to give it a chance, the “…fucking stupid…” comment above seems to describe the proposition most succinctly.
What I don’t understand is why the new “pick your tyre” rule wasn’t given a chance to play out before knee-jerk new rules were so urgently needed?
Surely having some teams on different tyres with 7-8 tenths difference between them will mix up the grid already?