The FIA's World Motor Sport Council has today officially today approved, via e-vote, the decision to revert to last season’s qualification format for the remainder of the 2016 season.

The format, whereby the slowest six cars are eliminated at the end of the first two qualifying sessions before a final ten-car shootout for pole in Q3, will return for this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix.

The return follows an embarrassing month for the sport which appeared to consistently shoot itself in the foot. Having been widely panned in Melbourne, team boss met the following day to call on the sport to drop the format in time for Bahrain.

However, at a subsequent meeting Bernie Ecclestone, who initially supported calls for the scrapping of the new format, back-tracked, whilst FIA president Jean Todt didn't even offer a return to the old format as an alternative.

As a result the new format was used again in Bahrain and this time around was even more badly received than in Australia.

Still adamant that the sport would not be seen as going backwards - or the FIA or Ecclestone losing face - Todt suggested a new format that would be based on drivers' aggregate times in each phase of the session.

However, in a rare move the teams stood their ground and united, demanding the return of the old format, Ecclestone and the FIA having little option but to relent.

Today's e-vote essentially rubber-stamped the move.

However, with Ecclestone and the Todt likely to suffer further ridicule at their climb-down, as the Oscar winning movie declared; There will be blood...

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by 4SQUARETYRES, 12/04/2016 13:57

"F1 has been making the headlines for all the wrong reasons these past few years, when are we going to get back to real racing?"

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2. Posted by Stitch431, 12/04/2016 10:04

"Wow, what took them so long?"

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3. Posted by Darvi, 12/04/2016 8:30

"Weird, sanity has broken out. I hope that the teams will now realise that, if they work together, they can move Formula 1 in a positive direction despite Napoleon and the Poison Gnome's efforts.

It is a crying shame that FOCA allowed itself to be broken up by Bernie bribing the larger teams. Had it stood its ground, F1 would be in a better place right now."

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4. Posted by Tweek, 11/04/2016 20:36

"Putin picks the grid order for the Russian Grand Prix. Bernie negotiated it in a back room somewhere and Jean forgot to check the paperwork before he e-voted
On the bright side the gulag prisoners who are bussed in for Sochi will get nice new clothes this yea from one of the newer teams..... Cough cough HAAAAAS cough cough"

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5. Posted by meatball, 11/04/2016 20:17

"time for these two clowns to get back in their car and leave the circus."

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6. Posted by Ro, 11/04/2016 18:48

"I am just amazed at Mr Todt remarks, he is adamant that the sport would not be seen as going backwards - or the FIA or Ecclestone losing face, but by trying tO "FUDGE" qualifying he has done just that. I now wander what else he is dreaming up. What he tried to do has never been done in any form of racing, so why did he thing it was a good idea? Im sorry Mr Todt, its time you retired !"

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FIA officially approves return of 2015 qualifying

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