F1 Teams Agree Radical Elimination Method In 2016 Qualifying

In a radical move, Formula One will move to new elimination qualifying for 2016. As viewership declines, F1 teams are looking to enhance the experience of watching the race.

The new format will have the slowest drivers eliminated while the qualifying is still in session, rather than cutting off at the end of each phase before they gun for the final pole shootout.

This is how it's going to work:

Q1:

• 16-minutes duration;
• The slowest driver is eliminated in the first 7 minutes;
• After that every 1 minute and 30 seconds, the slowest driver is eliminated till chequered; flag;
• A total of seven drivers are eliminated, 15 will move to Q2.

Q2:

• 15-minute duration;
• Post 6-minutes the slowest driver is eliminated;
• After that every 1 minute and 30 seconds, the slowest driver is eliminated till chequered flag;
• A total of seven drivers are eliminated, 8 will move to Q3.

Q3:

• 14-minute duration;
• Post 5-minutes the slowest driver is eliminated;
• After that every 1 minute and 30 seconds, the slowest driver is eliminated till chequered flag;
• Final 1 minute 30 seconds will see two drivers battle for pole position.

Formula One supremo, Bernie Ecclestone, speaking to Reuters, said "The idea really is that it will be the same as qualifying in wet conditions. Maybe one or two of the hotshoes aren't going to make it. So we won't see the obvious on the front of the grid,".

However, all the changes are subject to final approval by the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) World Motor Sport Council next month.

In 2015, the entire season was dominated by Mercedes and all of the races were predictable. In fact, the sport has an annual turnover of $1 billion, however, the viewership has steadily declined over the years.

Team bosses and F1 chiefs were in Geneva discussing the future ideas, have to some extent agreed to some of the proposals. Only time will tell if F1 can bring the bang back to the much-revered sport.