Two weeks, to the day, before the cars take to the track in Melbourne, F1 chiefs have finally agreed on the qualifying format.

Of course, whether it runs without a hitch, and whether fans (and drivers) can make sense of it remains to be seen.

First proposed by the Strategy Group, the controversial new format then suffered a knock-back when Bernie Ecclestone claimed the relevant software and broadcast graphics would not be ready in time.

As a result a 'bastardised' version was suggested, one which would use the new format in Q1 and Q2 but revert to the old format for Q3. This, of course, still didn't take into account the concerns raised by Ecclestone.

At this point the teams and drivers got involved, most, especially the drivers, unhappy with the new format, insisting that the old one worked perfectly well.

Aware that the clock is ticking, the FIA World Motor Sport Council, having been advised by FOM that the software and graphics issues will be sorted, today ratified the original format which sees the slowest drivers eliminated in all three phases of qualifying.

And for those fans (and drivers) still as confused as we are:

Q1 will last for 16 minutes. After 7 minutes the slowest driver is eliminated. Subsequently the slowest driver is eliminated every 1 minute 30 seconds thereafter until the chequered flag. 7 drivers eliminated, 15 progress to Q2.

Q2 will last for 15 minutes. After 6 minutes, the slowest driver is eliminated. Subsequently the slowest driver is eliminated every 1 minute 30 seconds thereafter until the chequered flag. 7 drivers eliminated, 8 progress to Q3.

Q3 will last 14 minutes. After 5 minutes, the slowest driver is eliminated. Subsequently the slowest driver is eliminated every 1 minute 30 seconds thereafter until the chequered flag leaving 2 drivers in the final 1 minute 30 seconds.

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

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Pavlo, 07/03/2016 18:24

"Please, now don't call this qualifying, it's just a different type of the race. It's just not about "who is faster on a clean track", which Qualification is by definition.
Now even in a short Melbourne, to get 3 fast laps all drivers will have to start within a first minute. Or they may settle for just 2 laps and have better choice of the starting moment. But then it's the game of letting the driver out in the right time, and a huge game of luck.
Just imagine a situation - one driver has 10 drivers behind him in a 6th minute of Q1 - entirely possible. He can slow down all the queue then accelerate on the start line and eliminate somebody behind, in a pretty random fashion. Then the queue uses the drag and first one is eliminated. He needs some time to realize he is out, but each of the driver behind now has just one chance and has to overtake. That will be a mess, and several times per each session.
Now this will be absolute chaos to watch if you don't have the software to tell you what is happening, so more and more people will prefer to watch the qualifying and probably the race as well from home. Isn't it the opposite to the try to attract fans to the circuits?

"

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2. Posted by C5, 06/03/2016 18:50

"If the powers that be thinks this is such a good idea, why don't they apply this process to their meetings?

After the first 10 minutes the person with the worst ideas, as scored by secret electronic voting by all then attendees, is voted off the island - I mean, is booted out of the meeting. The current scores are displayed real-time on a monitor in the room. The boot-out is repeated every 5 minutes until only two persons remains in the meeting. The two will battle it out for whose agenda should prevail by doing best-of-five rock-paper-scissors.

If they think that sounds stupid, they will know exactly how I feel about this and pretty much all of their other ideas...
"

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3. Posted by Tom2681, 05/03/2016 14:15

"Q3: slowest driver eliminated after 5 minutes.
How is that going to work at Singapore in the rain? No-one's going to do an outlap and a fast lap in under 5 minutes.

Still confused here."

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4. Posted by Canuck, 05/03/2016 12:28

"With the chance of being eliminated in a 90 sec interval, how can a diver get fresh tires as the pit stop time is part of a lap. Does this meant that all tire changes must be completed to allow a fast lap before 9 minutes remain in each session? Is it the slowest in the 90 sec slice of time or the slowest of a session that gets eliminated? Can a driver put in a hot lap and sit out the rest of a session (i.e. if the team thinks the time is fast enough to proceed to the next, can they sit still?) "

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5. Posted by TokyoAussie, 04/03/2016 22:20

"It'll be great. One of the better rule changes.

Barf. This is going to be incomprehensible to follow, even with software and watching on TV. Any system that relies so strongly on radio messages as this, and which could not be communicated by pit board messages, is by very definition going to be a bit hard to follow. And here I was thinking that the powers that be wanted less reliance on radio messages telling drivers how to drive. I have total sympathy for the paying fans who should not be subjected to such crap. "

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6. Posted by Editor, 04/03/2016 19:46

"@ Rock doc

And Ricciardo leading every session?"

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7. Posted by Rock Doc, 04/03/2016 18:31

"@ Chris Balfe

If the F1 App people are involved ... I wouldn't be surprised to see the return of Maldanado in to the grid"

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8. Posted by scf1fan, 04/03/2016 17:07

"The one (somewhat positive) thing that this format will insure is that every team, will do everything they can to have both drivers on track during the first part of the qualifying sessions. So the participation rate should be higher throughout the session. Perhaps a secondary benifit will be that there will be fewer cars "in each others' way" as the session progresses. (A big downside to this might be that they will guarantee that drivers (who are eliminated) will be heading back to the pits at reduced speeds throughout the session. So maybe . . . fewer drivers, but greater speed differenctial.)
.
My main concern is that, if a driver struggles for a lap or two, and then manages a hot lap . . . but not make it to the start/finish line before the next time increment ticks overs, how are they going to be pulled off of the track?
.
So, in the end, other than for the increased participation throughout the session, I don't see this as a big help to the proceedings."

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9. Posted by Tweek, 04/03/2016 16:54

"You know W.E.C. and I.M.S.A. are looking Fantastic this year. I for one will be watching the 12 hours at Sebring live. I think I'll just record Melbourn and come back to it later. It's actually quite amazing how Bernie scheduled almost every f1 race this season in direct competition with good racing elsewhere in the world. I'm betting he planned on being my second race on dvr all year !

By way Bernie I'm watching the entire Sebring event from Wednesday through Saturday from a pit box for less $€£¥ then I can watch 1 day of f1 at the track. I''ll walk the pits, say hi to K.Mag's dad, probably get a free autograph while I'm touching his car !"

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10. Posted by Ro, 04/03/2016 16:32

"Its gonna turn out to a comple F**kup . Why change it ? It wont make a blind bit of difference , apart from some very hairy (and dangerous) moments from the drivers that fear of being knocked out. How its gonna spice up the race leaves me baffled. Its a JOKE !"

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11. Posted by slracer, 04/03/2016 16:17

""The FINAL elimination in each session occurs at the chequered flag - not when time is up."

OK, you are next to slowest and START your lap (which takes more than 1:30) as the slowest driver is eliminated. You have clean air and freshly warm tires and put in a lap which moves you to P1 in Q1. However, F1 Timing tells you "Sorry Cinderella, but you were eliminated about 30 seconds ago (when the clock struck "twelve"). As I read it, this is possible! Does anyone see a problem with it? Maybe the interval should be at least long enough to finish a lap? Just saying ..."

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12. Posted by Editor, 04/03/2016 15:42

"@ Jonno

If the F1 App people are involved in doing the qualifying software, we could see the race take place mid-August."

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13. Posted by Jonno, 04/03/2016 15:39

"I look forward to all the fun and games. I'll not be surprised to end up watching the race on Monday.
"

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14. Posted by Spindoctor, 04/03/2016 15:32

"I'm disappointed my Clown-suit proposal hasn't been adopted. It would have been much more entertaining and about as logical & comprehensible as this form of qualifying. Apart from giving commentators more to drone on about when the qualifying & racing are intermidably dull, what DOES this bring to the party?"

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15. Posted by CL, 04/03/2016 15:29

"So they'll have sorted out all the wrinkles in the procedures and the software? Ambition should be admired."

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Melbourne qualifying to be as first proposed

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