No leeway for drivers stymied by red flags in new F1 qualifying

The new knockout system will be introduced at this weekend's Australian Grand Prix, with drivers getting eliminated at 90-second intervals during the second-half of each qualifying segment.

How new Formula 1 qualifying system will work

While the clock will stop when a red flag is brought out, it will resume from the same point when the session resumes - meaning there will not be enough time for drivers to complete out-laps and set another laptime before the next elimination point.

"It's just bad luck," said Whiting. "The difference between previous qualifying sessions and this is you have to finish the lap before the timer goes.

"You can't finish the lap unless the chequered flag is out, in which case the cars on track can do that.

"It is no different to before other than normally you could restart the session and drivers could have another go, but unfortunately, that is not possible anymore."

Third practice will take on extra significance this season as the results will be used to define who gets knocked out if multiple drivers cannot complete flying laps in the first part of qualifying.

"When we start qualifying, the drivers are arranged in P3 order," said Whiting.

"Whoever is at the bottom of the list at the seven-minute point, whether they have set a time or not, will go."

Should a number of drivers not set a time in Q2, eliminations will be based on where they finished in Q1. The same applies for Q3.

If a driver does not set a laptime at any point during qualifying, they will be outside the 107 per cent cut-off.

The previous rule over this remains, with the decision left up to the stewards as to whether a driver outside the mark is allowed to take part in the race.

Whiting said the software system required for the new format "looks good".

There will be a normal countdown clock, counting down the total time of the qualifying segment, and a secondary clock in a different colour, counting down to zero for each elimination segment.

When a driver is eliminated, their name will be greyed out in timing graphics.