Official: Return to the old qualification system starting in Bahrain!
Gathered this morning after the fiasco of the new qualifying system, team directors unanimously decided to revert to the old system starting from the next race.
The knockout system in qualifying did not have the desired effects yesterday in qualifying. Q3 was notably marked by a sad spectacle: the vast majority of drivers attempting only one flying lap, the suspense ended after just a few minutes.
Faced with such a backlash, tongues were loosened: “rotten” according to Ecclestone, “crap” according to Vettel… Words preceded actions: gathered urgently this morning in Melbourne, the team directors unanimously decided to revert to the old qualifying system starting from the next Grand Prix in Bahrain. However, the vote of the F1 Commission and the World Council is still needed for the decision to be ratified – but that should hardly be a problem.
Toto Wolff confirmed a return to the old system until the end of the season and we will think of a better system for next year. We are now reverting to something we understand, where we have fixed rules and we are not going to reinvent something new.
The elimination system, decided by Charlie Whiting, lived as long as a butterfly.
