F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone described the new qualifying format introduced for the 2016 season as “pretty crap” after watching the so-called shootout for the Australian Grand Prix on television, with the first major session of the year descending into chaos.

Not only did Lewis Hamilton continue his relentless grip on Saturday qualifying as he recorded his 50th career pole position, fans were left incredibly frustrated as the closing minutes of the session saw the 10 remaining drivers return to the pits and refuse to go for one last shot at pole in order to save their tyres.

For those watching on TV, the countdown clock that was promised in order to keep fans updated with who was on the cusp of elimination failed to display until the first three drivers were knocked out.

It wasn’t all bad, as Q1 provided an early rush from all 22 drivers to try and get a good lap under their belts before the 90-second elimination period began, but once the dust settled and Q2 began, the remaining 16 drivers decided that putting in an improved lap time would be a tough ask and decided against taking to the track.

The tipping point came in Q3, when all 10 drivers returned to the pits with more than four minutes left on the clock, leaving fans disgruntled, angry and simply bored of the unnecessary changes.

Ecclestone, who spoke to Autosport immediately after the session, was very critical of the format, and admitted that changes could be brought in for the second round of the season in Bahrain next month.

"I watched it, but I have to say I wasn't enthusiastic about it from day one," said Ecclestone.

"It was pretty crap. But this is what we've got, until we can change it.

"The only thing about this [format] is that the quick guys could have run off the road, or done anything a little bit silly, and then you would get a mixed-up grid, which is what we wanted.

"It just happens that Mercedes are still very, very good."

F1 Australian Grand Prix in pictures Show all 25 1 /25 F1 Australian Grand Prix in pictures F1 Australian Grand Prix in pictures Friday Practice The Royal Australian Air Force's Roulettes perform ahead of practice. Getty F1 Australian Grand Prix in pictures Friday Practice The Royal Australian Air Force's Roulettes fly over the start-finish straight. Getty F1 Australian Grand Prix in pictures Friday Practice Lewis Hamilton climbs into Mercedes for first practice in Melbourne. Getty F1 Australian Grand Prix in pictures Friday Practice Max Verstappen gets in early laps on Friday morning. Getty F1 Australian Grand Prix in pictures Friday Practice Force India's Esteban Ocon runs off at the first corner but recovers to the track. Getty F1 Australian Grand Prix in pictures Friday Practice Hamilton heads out for his first run on Friday. Getty F1 Australian Grand Prix in pictures Friday Practice Valtteri Bottas also went off at the first corner but managed to avoid the barriers. Getty F1 Australian Grand Prix in pictures Friday Practice Fernando Alonso's session was hampered by an exhaust problem. Getty F1 Australian Grand Prix in pictures Friday Practice Sebastian Vettel was half-a-second off the pace as he ended the day in fifth. Getty F1 Australian Grand Prix in pictures Friday Practice Verstappen took the fight to Hamilton as he finished Friday's running fewer than two-tenths behind the world champion. Getty F1 Australian Grand Prix in pictures Friday Practice Hamilton topped both sessions as he laid down an early marker. Getty F1 Australian Grand Prix in pictures Saturday practice Albert Park hosts the opening grand prix of the year Getty F1 Australian Grand Prix in pictures Saturday qualifying Valtteri Bottas crashed after running wide at turn one EPA F1 Australian Grand Prix in pictures Saturday qualifying Hamilton clinched pole position for the Australian Grand Prix Getty F1 Australian Grand Prix in pictures Saturday qualifying Hamilton took his 73rd career pole position Getty F1 Australian Grand Prix in pictures Saturday qualifying Sebastian Vettel could only manage third position as Ferrari teammate Kimi Raikkonen clinched second Getty F1 Australian Grand Prix in pictures Saturday qualifying Hamilton celebrates his pole position as he pulls up on the start-finish straight. Getty F1 Australian Grand Prix in pictures Saturday qualifying Hamilton has won twice at Melbourne in the past. Getty F1 Australian Grand Prix in pictures Saturday qualifying Hamilton relaxes after qualifying on pole position for the Australian Grand Prix Getty F1 Australian Grand Prix in pictures Saturday qualifying Vettel and Hamilton joked with each other throughout the post-qualifying press conference Getty F1 Australian Grand Prix in pictures Sunday Race Hamilton started the race on pole AFP F1 Australian Grand Prix in pictures Sunday Race Hamilton has won twice at Melbourne in the past AFP F1 Australian Grand Prix in pictures Sunday Race Vettel vaulted Hamilton during the safety car period Getty F1 Australian Grand Prix in pictures Sunday Race Vettel celebrates his win Getty F1 Australian Grand Prix in pictures Sunday Race Hamilton looks on as Vettel soaks up the acclaim in Melbourne AFP

However, Ecclestone did add that simply reverting to the old system would result in the same outcome of an all-Mercedes front row, and the 85-year-old is determined to bring back the entertainment factor that made the sport the pinnacle of motorsport some time ago.

"If we go back to the old system, I tell you what would happen: Mercedes would be first and second," Ecclestone said. "Pretty simple.

"What I don't want to see is where you and I could predict how the grid is going to be for the start of a race, and how that race is going to finish.

"You and I could sell everything we've got and put our money on Hamilton winning. It's not what the public want.

"If you are a fan and you are on the way to a race we should be discussing whether or not Hamilton has to push, whether the Ferraris are quick, or maybe somebody else comes through, but they can't do that anymore.

"That's what the problem is."

Ecclestone wasn’t the only person to criticise the new changes, as Mercedes boss Toto Wolff labelled it “pretty rubbish” and his Red Bull counterpart Christian Hornersaid that F1 “should apologise to its fans”.