Formula One's new qualifying format is playing into Michael Schumacher's hands, according to Bernie Ecclestone.

The sport's commercial supremo made clear on Thursday that he was still far from happy with Saturday afternoon qualifying despite minor modifications for Sunday's inaugural Bahrain Grand Prix.

"I'm not happy with qualifying at all," Ecclestone told reporters. "The problem is that we are operating under a democracy, so we have to get everybody to agree and it's not possible," he added.

"The people who stopped things going through in the way that we proposed were Ferrari because at the moment it's the best possible decision for Ferrari.

"I said when they were at the regulations that this is a Michael regulation. And I don't blame them not agreeing to change it."

With a fast time in the first session, which Schumacher starts as winner of the previous race, the German can then benefit by starting near the end of the second part when conditions are likely to be at their fastest.

Ecclestone said further change to the format would be hard to introduce this season.