New F1 qualifying delayed until Spain

The new qualifying system that is being incorporated this season has been delayed until the Spanish Grand Prix, according to Bernie Ecclestone.

The new format will see the slowest drivers knocked out every 90 seconds in the three sessions, leaving two drivers fighting for pole position at the end.

But Ecclestone told the Independent that it won’t happen yet.

“The new qualifying won't happen because we can't get everything together in time," he said.

"It was going to come in at the start of this year, but 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. All of the software has got to be written so it's not easy."

Ecclestone hopes the new system will provide greater racing, as the pressure could force the top drivers to be knocked out early.

"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, because why he should be slow in the race if he is quick in qualifying?" added Ecclestone.

"I wanted a very simple thing. I wanted qualifying to stay as it is, because it is good, and then if a guy is on pole and has won the last race, he gets so many seconds added to his time so he has to fight through the bloody pack to get in the lead, which he would do in the end.

"It would be exciting racing while he is doing it."

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