A proposal to trial ‘qualifying races’ at three rounds on the 2020 F1 calendar has not been completely dropped, but is more likely to go ahead in 2021.

As revealed by RaceFans Formula 1’s plan to replace qualifying with short races, in which the starting grid would be decided based on reverse championship order, at three races next year was not approved at a recent meaning as it failed to gain the required unanimous support of teams . Formula 1 motorsport director Ross Brawn later revealed two teams had opposed the plan

McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl said the 2021 regulations, due to be revealed ahead of this weekend’s race, are the current priority for the sport.

“The discussion was ‘let’s focus now on getting the ’21 regulations waved through the next week and focus on that’,” he said in response to a question from RaceFans. “Then I think as soon as we have clarity on all these things, I think there’s a chance that we restart that discussion again.

“Not just about this possible qualifying race, but also about several other topics which have been discussed between the strategy guys of the teams and FIA and FOM. There’s some good ideas around.

“As you well know [to be approved for] 2020, you obviously need all teams united as I said before. So I wouldn’t say it’s completely off the table for 2020, but it would be unlikely that it happens for ’20. But then I think the discussions are going to be for 2021 [and] not just for this quali race.”

Other changes F1 has previously considered but rejected include whether to require each driver to make two pit stops per race instead of one.

While most teams appear to be in favour of the qualifying races proposal, drivers have largely criticised the plan, calling it “artificial”.

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2020 F1 season