Formula 1's new 'musical chairs' qualifying format has hit a roadblock.

Bernie Ecclestone has revealed that Formula One Management's software team does not have time to prepare the system for the Melbourne season opener next month.

"The new qualifying won't happen because we can't get everything together in time," Ecclestone told The Independent.

"It was going to come in at the start of this year but we are not going to be able to get all the software done in time. So the qualifying changes will probably be in Spain.

"In Australia it will be the old qualifying. All of the software has got to be written so it's not easy."

The new format is based on the existing 'knockout' qualifying system, but with a car eliminated every 90 seconds instead of in a group at the end of the three segments.

Ecclestone admitted that he actually wanted a more radical shake-up for 2016, involving reversing the grids.

"I wanted a very simple thing," he said. "I wanted qualifying to stay as it is, because it is good, and then if a guy is on pole and has won the last race he gets so many seconds added to his time so he has to fight through the bloody pack to get in the lead, which he would do in the end."

The season-opening Australian Grand Prix will take place on March 20, while the Spanish Grand Prix is four races later on May 15.