01/03/2016
NEWS STORY
As the final pre-season test got underway at the Circuit de Catalunya today, team managers were meeting to discuss the new qualifying format.
The 'knock out' format proposed at last week’s Strategy Group meeting at the circuit, and subsequently rubber stamped by the F1 Commission, will not be introduced until the Spanish Grand Prix, Bernie Ecclestone having admitted that it will take that long to produce the necessary software.
However, whilst the new format has divided fans, so too drivers and the teams have mixed views.
Felipe Massa has argued that it will produce "chaos", whilst Fernando Alonso feels it will merely cause a "headache" for race fans.
Indeed, Lewis Hamilton, who in many ways is the target of the hastily rushed through new format, believes that it won't change anything.
Speaking at the Geneva Motorshow, Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne admitted that his team is against the new format.
"I think we need more discussions about the new format," he told reporters. "We must be careful not to upset the system.
"I'm not sure Ferrari can accept Bernie's ideas," he added, though the F1 supremo was actually in favour of an alternative format. "We need to understand it better, and I don't think every team agrees with the proposal."
That said, whatever the outcome of the team bosses meeting, source claim the new format, certainly in its current guise, will not see the light of day.
Check out our Tuesday gallery, here.