F1 (Artzzz/Bigstock.com)

The forthcoming F1 season will feature a new elimination-style qualification system, despite some opposition from teams, drivers and fans.

F1 bosses gave the new qualification system the green light on Friday.

The decision means the new system will be in place for the Australian Grand Prix on March 19.

Calls to alter the system in order to avoid an empty track at the end of qualifying have been ignored.

Use of the system was confirmed by Williams team principal Claire Williams.

"The Strategy Group voted it through and I voted for it," she said.

"I think it's really important to remember the whole purpose of looking at qualifying was to try and shake up the grid to go into the race and make races a little bit more exciting."

F1 has decided to press ahead with the plans despite concerns that the necessary on-screen timing and graphics would not be ready for Australia. However, Bernie Ecclestone, who owns the timing and graphics firm responsible, now says it can be done in time.

Among the new system's most high profile sceptics is triple world champion Lewis Hamilton.

"I've generally enjoyed the qualifying we had for the last few years, so that's why the changes we've made don't make sense to me in my head right now."

Hamilton did however say he was prepared to try the new system – and that he was interested in what the fans' response would be.

The new system

The new qualification set-up involves drivers being eliminated every 90 seconds in the final minutes of each of the three sessions.

Seven cars will be eliminated from the last minutes of the first (16-minute) session, followed by a further seven in the final minutes of the second (15-minute) session. The final eight will then take part in the last 14-minute shootout for the front positions.

There are fears that the new system will be hard to follow for fans and that because drivers will have used their fresh tyres, they will not be able to go very fast in the final session.

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