It's fair to say that none of us really know how the next hour or so is going to work out.

Not in terms of the pecking order - of which we are beginning to get a basic idea following FP3 - but rather how well this new qualifying format will work and whether it proves popular with fans and drivers.

Maurizio Arrivabene, like us, is firmly in the 'if it aint broke' camp, but the fact is the new format is agreed so we've got to get on with it.

The intention is not so much to spice up the races on Sunday - the idea behind Bernie Ecclestone's reversed grid, but instead to promote more action in qualifying. That said, if we get some of the shocks we are expecting we are going to see drivers starting out of position.

Arrivabene also believes that the format is going to lead to "supermarket" style queues in the pitlane, drivers eager to get out on track and on the pace as quickly as possible, and if FP3 was anything to go by he's correct. All of which could lead to more incidents like this morning, when Haryanto and Grosjean collided, the Indonesian subsequently picking up a grid penalty.

In terms of the pecking order, Mercedes is still the benchmark, but Ferrari has closed in, certainly based on this morning's evidence.

As expected Toro Rosso is very strong, as is Williams, Red Bull, and McLaren.

That said, this is based on FP3, and like this afternoon's session let's not forget that this is the first race weekend of the year, so let's not get too carried away.

Air temperature is 17 degrees C, whilst the track temperature is 25 degrees. The risk of rain is 20%.

As for tyres, like the qualifying format, it's all change, teams now having access to three compounds, in this weekend's case, supersoft, soft and medium.

Rosberg almost clips the pit-wall in his eagerness to get out and in the process is leapfrogged by his teammate. As predicted, the pitlane is chock-a-block. In no time at all, all 2 drivers are on track.

Hamilton cannot pass Grosjean to find clear track, much to the delight of Gene Haas, whilst a mistake sees Rosberg run wide in T1.

Hamilton posts 26.635 and Rosberg 33.717, the German leapfrogged by a while load of drivers as he pays the price for that error.

Raikkonen goes second (26.825), ahead of Verstappen, Sainz and bottas. Moments later, Rosberg posts 26.934 to go fourth.

Vettel posts 26.945 to go fifth.

Whilst attention is focussed on the top of the sheets it is the bottom that matters, currently Wehrlein is slowest.

Raikkonen goes quickest (26.579) but is instantly eclipsed by Hamilton (25.351).

Wehrlein is the first to lose out, the German failing to get out of the pits before the cut off.

Ninety seconds later, Haryanto is the second driver to be eliminated.

Alonso goes second (26.537) and Button fourth (26.740) ahead of Verstappen, Rosberg and Vettel.

Gutierrez is the third driver we lose, with teammate Grosjean likely to be next.

Kvyat is out of his car and out of the session, with Nasr and Palmer also looking to be early victims of this new format.

Massa goes second (25.918), the Brazilian quickest of all in S1.

Nasr is next out, but for reasons best known to his team is sent out even though he cannot make the cut.

A late charge sees Palmer go 14th, which means that Ericsson gets an early bath.

So, Wehrlein, Haryanto, Gutierrez, Grosjean, Kvyat, Nasr and Ericsson are out, whilst Hamilton is quickest, ahead of Massa, Alonso, Hulkenberg, Raikkonen, Perez, Button, Verstappen, Rosberg and Vettel.

Early days, but that was manic as opposed to entertaining. Furthermore, based on the Wehrlein, and certainly Kvyat, the teams remains as confused as we are.

The Mercedes duo are ready and waiting at the end of the pitlane for the start of Q2, Rosberg leading the way.

As the Mercedes duo and Vettel begin their first flying laps, the Renault duo head down the pitlane.

Rosberg posts 24.796 but this is soon beaten by Hamilton who crosses the line at 24.605. Vettel can only manage 25.804, 1.199s off the world champion's pace.

Indeed, Perez goes third whilst Verstappen goes fifth.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by NVexplorer, 19/03/2016 22:56

"Thank you, you morons, for screwing up the best part of the F1 race weekend. Bernie, it is time for you to disappear. You have brought the sport into disrepute."

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2. Posted by JackTheCat, 19/03/2016 15:19

"An utter ****ing shambles frankly, but worse than that was the fact that it was so damned predictable.

All the 'told you so's in the world can't make up for the fact that the sport has just made itself a laughing stock (again). If I was a paying customer at the track I would be livid!

Brundle summed it up - it needs putting in the skip!"

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3. Posted by edllorca, 19/03/2016 11:44

"I seem to be the only one who didn't have a problem with this. Some of the farce were the teams not having their cars on track at the right time."

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4. Posted by father guido, 19/03/2016 11:16

"circus: a public spectacle. You know, I have come to expect this kind of thing. In some nontraditional way its become entertaining. I can't help but think that Flavio would have added so much more color to it. I miss him. For the love of it all, Father Guido"

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5. Posted by gasconboy, 19/03/2016 8:22

"What a farce and imagine if you had paid to watch, even I hadn't imagined the fight for pole to be with cars parked in pits!!! Perhaps we could get the drivers to come up with something better??"

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6. Posted by scf1fan, 19/03/2016 7:59

"I wanted to give it the benefit of the doubt . . . but that was just terrible!!!"

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7. Posted by Nortim, 19/03/2016 7:46

"What was that? No cars running, "Saving the tires"? Why no one listens what fans have to say before they do absolutely wrong thing?"

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8. Posted by wmcot54, 19/03/2016 7:31

"Can we have a poll on who liked the new qualifying vs. who hated it? My guess is 1% liked and 99% hated."

Hamilton takes pole as new format disappoints

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