In an unprecedented move all eleven teams have united in calling for the return of the 2015 qualifying format.

Ahead of today's meeting with Bernie Ecclestone and Jean Todt, all eleven teams have issued a letter in which they demand the return of the 2015 qualifying format.

The letter plays on the fact that it is signed by all eleven teams, a sign of total unanimity almost unheard of in the sport.

Then again, all eleven teams were in agreement when they met up in Melbourne hours ahead of the season opening race following the debacle witnessed the day before.

Since then, Ecclestone, initially a fierce critic of the new format has backtracked whilst (FIA president) Jean Todt is standing firm.

At a meeting ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix a return to the old format wasn't even on the table, Todt initially pushing a hybrid version before suggesting an alternative format which would be based on aggregate times.

With Bernie Ecclestone seeing the team's unhappiness with the new format part of some sort of agenda, and the F1 supremo determined not to give any further ground to the likes of Mercedes and Ferrari, the sport could well be facing stalemate with neither side wanting to give way.

However, other than the teams, the new format has been unpopular with drivers, fans and broadcasters, who cannot be accused of having an agenda.

If agreement is not reached today it is likely that the format witnessed in Melbourne and Bahrain will remain in place for China.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by scf1fan, 07/04/2016 18:47

"I have yet to figure what the new Format is actually supposed to be "fixing." It's different, sort of . . . but the only thing it seems to really do is force the teams to go out early in the session. At that point, they see where their performance is in respect to the other teams, realize that the clock is going to eliminated them anyway, so they head back into the pits, not to be seen again. It's sort of like reading a story where the most important part of the plot happens in the first pages . . . (sometimes it can work, but not usually) . . . so why spend the time reading the rest? To put it simply, the new format has lost all sense of finale!
.
For me, if they continue with the new format, the result will be more sleep on Saturday!
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@ Ro . . . I'd rather be playing WoT than watching MOTOGP. ;-) "

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2. Posted by Ro, 07/04/2016 15:23

"Methinks stubborness will prevail and the "NEW FORMAT" will stay in place. I would dare to mention that ALL the teams not practice at all, wander what would happen then ? Again, JT and BE should both resign as this woeful episode has put the sport (yes, sport) into disrepute. How long before a lot of fans just switched off ? Has anyone watched MOTOGP lately, now that's RACING !"

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3. Posted by meatball, 07/04/2016 15:08

"Seems the FIA have a golden opportunity here.
1) Ignore the teams, drivers and venues and continue to alienate the masses <or>
2) Show some humility and admit they misjudged the "spectacle" they thought this new format would bring. "

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4. Posted by mickl, 07/04/2016 13:22

"Has everyone been issued with a pistol today and been told which foot to shoot themselves in?"

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Teams demand return to 2015 qualifying format

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