Formula One's governing body formally approved on Monday a decision to ditch its new qualifying format and revert to last year's version from this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai.
The International Automobile Federation (FIA) said in a statement that its World Motor Sport Council had voted in favour of the change which will apply for the remainder of the championship.
Formula 1 teams and fans had declared the live elimination format used in the first two races in Australia and Bahrain to be a failure.
FIA President Jean Todt and Bernie Ecclestone, representing the commercial rights holder, had initially ruled out a return to the 2015 format but backed down after teams expressed united opposition to a compromise proposal.
The FIA released the following statement: "The World Motor Sport Council today approved, via e-vote, the decision to revert to last season’s qualification format for the remainder of the 2016 FIA Formula One World Championship."
"The format, where the slowest six cars are eliminated at the end of the first two qualifying sessions before a final ten-car shootout for Pole in Q3, will return for this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix."
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