How 2006 qualifying works
Single car qualification as used in 2005 is now consigned to the history books as the FIA has cooked up a new format that is aimed to spice up the one hour Saturday slot. The question remains as to how long the new system will last as it is not a simple one as Michael Schumacher makes clear.
“The only reason we could probably be forced to change is if you (the journalist’s) explain it the wrong way if people don’t understand so it’s your (the journalist’s) job to explain it so we don’t have to,” Schumacher stated in the Thursday press conference in Bahrain.

So there you have it. All 22 runners head out for the first 15 minute phase of qualifying with whatever fuel level they wish. Each runner can complete as may laps as they like but at the end of the 15 minute session (and they mean exactly 15 minutes as the timing stops at that time), the slowest six cars are eliminated from further proceedings and take positions 17 to 22 on the grid. The times are ten reset.

After a five minute pause in the action to allow for commercial breaks on television, the 16 remaining runners can take to the track again for another 15 minute session.
This second phase of qualifying is similar to the first phase in that the slowest six runners are eliminate at the end of the session taking positions 11 to 16 on the grid.

This leaves the fastest ten runners able to take part in the third phase of qualifying. Following a short pause, the times are reset once again. However, unlike the previous two phases, the final ten runners must attempt to qualify with the fuel load on board that they intend to start the race with.

To ensure teams do not put in one flying lap and then try to preserve fuel from that point, the ten runners are weighed ahead of the final phase and then following the 20 minute session, the same fuel weight is added back to the fuel tank for the Grand Prix itself.

The order in the final 20 minute phase determines the top ten positions on the grid.

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