The FIA have confirmed the new knockout format of qualifying will be used this season in newly published 2016 Sporting Regulations.

The session will remain divided into three parts, with Q1 running from the top of the hour until 16 minutes past, Q2 from 24 minutes past to 39 minutes past and Q3 from 46 minutes past to the top of the hour.

22 cars will take to the track for the first seven minutes of the session at which point the slowest driver on the timesheet will be eliminated and must return to the pits. This practice will be repeated every 90 seconds until 16 cars remain. When time expires on the 16 minute session, drivers can complete their lap with the slowest then eliminated.

Formula One Group Chief Executive Bernie Ecclestone has revealed that he wanted to retain last year's qualifying format Formula One Group Chief Executive Bernie Ecclestone has revealed that he wanted to retain last year's qualifying format

15 cars will then proceed to Q2 where after six minutes the slowest will be eliminated and this will again be repeated every 90 seconds. The slowest driver once the final laps have been completed will also be eliminated leaving eight cars for Q3.

Q3 will run for five minutes before the slowest driver is eliminated, with the next slowest eliminated every 90 seconds, leaving two to contest the final moments of qualifying. Both drivers will again be able to finish their lap when the chequered flag waves.

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2016 FIA F1 Sporting Regulations Article 33.1:

The session will be run as follows:

a) From 14.00 to 14.16 (Q1) all cars will be permitted on the track. Seven minutes after the start of the session the driver last in the classification will be eliminated and will no longer be timed, he must then return to the pit lane and may take no further part in the qualifying practice session. The same procedure will then apply after 8m30s, 10m0s, 11m30s, 13m0s and 14m30s leaving sixteen cars eligible to continue. At the end of the session all drivers on the track may complete the lap they are on and, once these final laps have been completed, the driver last in the classification may take no further part in the qualifying practice session.

Lap times achieved by the fifteen remaining cars will then be deleted.

b) From 14.24 to 14.39 (Q2) the fifteen remaining cars will be permitted on the track. Six minutes after the start of the session the driver last in the classification will be eliminated and will no longer be timed, he must then return to the pit lane and may take no further part in the qualifying practice session. The same procedure will then apply after 7m30s, 9m0s, 10m30s, 12m0s and 13m30s leaving nine cars eligible to continue. At the end of the session all drivers on the track may complete the lap they are on and, once these final laps have been completed, the driver last in the classification may take no further part in the qualifying practice session.

Lap times achieved by the eight remaining cars will then be deleted.

c) From 14.46 to 15.00 (Q3) the eight remaining cars will be permitted on the track. Five minutes after the start of the session the driver last in the classification will be eliminated and will no longer be timed, he must then return to the pit lane and may take no further part in the qualifying practice session. The same procedure will then apply after 6m30s, 8m0s, 9m30s, 11m0s and 12m30s leaving two cars eligible to continue. At the end of the session any driver on the track may complete the lap he is on and, once any final lap has been completed, the overall classification will be established.

The first race of the 2016 F1 season, the Australian GP, is exclusively live on Sky Sports F1. The race in Melbourne starts at 5am on Sunday March 20.