Dubai: Formula 1 will revert to last year's qualifying format from the Chinese Grand Prix, it has been confirmed.
The teams and drivers, as well as the sport’s fans, have been vocal in their opposition to the current system, which has been used in the two Grands Prix held already this season.
In a united letter to FIA president Jean Todt and F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone, the teams stated a desire to return to the previous system.
The move is an embarassing U-turn for Ecclestone and Todt, who have been reluctant to abandon the failed 2016 qualifying format.
Despite the sport looking likely to adopt the previous qualifying format from Shanghai until the end of the season, the FIA warned that such a move must still be ratified. There is also a chance that qualifying could still be revamped yet again for 2017.
The statement read: 'At the unanimous request of the teams in a letter received today, Jean Todt, president of the FIA, and Bernie Ecclestone, commercial rights holder representative, accepted, in the interests of the championship, to submit a proposal to the F1 Commission and World Motor Sport Council to revert to the qualifying format in force in 2015.
'This proposal, if approved by the F1 governing bodies, will take effect as from the Chinese Grand Prix and will apply for the rest of the season.
'Jean Todt and Bernie Ecclestone welcomed the idea put forward by the teams to have a global assessment of the format of the weekend for 2017.'
