Last week F1 teams agreed to introduce a new qualifying format which would see drivers eliminated in 90 second intervals instead of at the end of the sessions.
It was originally suggested that the new style of qualifying might be used as early as the first race in Australia. However, Bernie Ecclestone has said the software needs time to be developed.
“We are not going to be able to get all the software done in time. So the qualifying changes will probably be in Spain. In Australia it will be the old qualifying.” Ecclestone told the Independent
The Spanish Grand Prix is the fifth race of the season, so the qualifying sessions in Bahrain, China and Russia will likely remain as the current format.
The F1 boss has also expressed that the new style of qualifying is not what he wanted, and instead is in favour of having the grids reversed.
“It is not what I wanted in the end.” Ecclestone said.
“All I’m trying to do is muddle up the grid so that the guy that is quickest in qualifying doesn’t sit on pole and disappear.
“I wanted a very simple thing. I wanted qualifying to stay as it is because it’s good, and then if a guy is on pole and has won the last race he gets so many seconds added on to his time so he has to fight through the bloody pack to get in the lead.”
Drivers and teams were against Ecclestone’s proposed plans of reversing the grids which is why, at least for the time being, we won’t be seeing these changes implemented.
