After more criticism of the new system last weekend, a proposal for aggregate laps was put forward by F1’s governing body – although it received a lukewarm response from team bosses and was mocked by some drivers.

“It’s time to go to the circus,” said an especially unimpressed Sebastian Vettel.

The statement from the FIA read: “At the unanimous request of the teams in a letter received today, Jean Todt, President of the FIA, and Bernie Ecclestone, commercial rights holder representative, accepted, in the interests of the Championship, to submit a proposal to the F1 Commission and World Motor Sport Council to revert to the qualifying format in force in 2015.

This proposal, if approved by the F1 governing bodies, will take effect as from the Chinese Grand Prix and will apply for the rest of the season.”

The statement added: “Jean Todt and Bernie Ecclestone welcomed the idea put forward by the teams to have a global assessment of the format of the weekend for 2017.”