Team bosses are to meet with Bernie Ecclestone and Jean Todt in an attempt to rectify the mess that is qualifying.

Unfortunately the meeting will not take place until Sunday, by which time the sport’s already battered image will have been subjected to another debacle that is the new format.

In the wake of the Melbourne fiasco the teams met up on Sunday morning and unanimously agreed to revert to the old format. However, at last week's meeting of the F1 commission the only offer on the table from the FIA was a hybrid version which would see the new format retained for Q1 and Q2 whilst the old format would revert to the previous (2015) format.

A number of teams voted against the move and consequently, without the required unanimous agreement, this weekend sees the Melbourne format in use once again.

Drivers and team bosses have already admitted frustration with the move, Mercedes Toto Wolff one of the most vociferous.

"I think Saturday is going to be about the same as we had in Melbourne," he told Motorsport.com. "And then we'll see what the consequences are going to be, and whether the FIA then decides to change the rules. There will be another meeting on Sunday once they are all here."

Referring to Melbourne, he said: "I think we had a situation where funnily enough all teams had the same views. We realised that Saturday was not right, and we tried to come up with an opinion. But it's not us that makes the rules."

"It's a bit confusing, but in the end you have to accept it," he said of the FIA's decision to ignore the team bosses Melbourne agreement. "I think the reasoning they had was before we dump it overall maybe a compromise set-up is still a feasible situation. It wasn't as radical opinion as the teams had.

"We supported that compromise, because we thought it was less harmful than staying with the Melbourne format," he added. "But equally I understand the teams that voted against it, because they wanted to make a point in saying none of the solutions are really acceptable. Whatever the vote was, it was different to what we discussed on the Sunday. But again, it's not us making the rules."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Darvi, 02/04/2016 9:16

"Why is Bernie involved in setting the rules? The FIA needs to reassert control over their formula and, ideally:

1. Tell Bernie to focus on selling the package and set a maximum number of races per continent, to sensure that he doesn't just sell races to despots with large pockets.

2. The FIA needs to establish rule stability and then get someone sensible (Ross Brawn or Gary Anderson spring to mind) to tweak the rules to create better racing.

3. The FIA should force Bernie to pay the teams a franchise fee for entering (the same for all teams) with the remaining money to be divvied up in prize fees. The funds should e paid race by race rather than a year in arrears as is the case now.

Of course, this would require JT to grow a pair so I won't happen!"

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2. Posted by TokyoAussie, 02/04/2016 0:09

"I read this morning that Bernie criticized the team meeting in Melbourne on Sunday, saying it doesn't really matter if the teams meet or what they say. That is brilliant, considering it was at Bernie's insistence the meeting took place. Likewise the meeting that will take place this Sunday. God knows what will happen on Sunday, but I do know I have no confidence in the FIA or Bernie to do the sensible thing."

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3. Posted by Hardliner, 01/04/2016 14:45

"Its high time for a shot across the bows of the FIA. I suggest that no teams take part in Qualy at all, that'll bring them to their dumb French senses"

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4. Posted by edllorca, 01/04/2016 14:34

"Really simple solution to this. All cars must remain runnng until they are eliminated, and each car is rated on the last lap driven. Presto, plenty of action."

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Teams to meet with Ecclestone and Todt

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