2013 Audi A3

FIA agrees to call off 'winner takes all' scoring system

 
9 1,849 views Mar 21, 2009

The FIA will now work closely with teams to develop a new jointly-defined points system for 2010

The FIA will now work closely with teams to develop a new jointly-defined points system for 2010

Enlarge Photo
F1's governing body has agreed to call off the immediate implementation of its newly announced 'winner takes all' scoring system, amid the determined opposition of the teams. The FOTA team alliance on Friday said it had gathered in the wake of the World Motor Sport Council's announcement this week "to question the validity of this decision".

It had been becoming clear to observers that the scoring rule change, and the voluntary budget cap for 2010, was part of the wider political battle over the future of the sport.

In implementing the 'gold medals'-style system championed by Bernie Ecclestone, the FIA seemed to have deliberately ignored FOTA's separate proposal, where the points difference between first and second places is simply increased from 2 to 3 points.

"FOTA had made a proposal that was carefully based on the results of a Global Audience Survey, which allowed listening to preferences of the public, and all the Teams firmly believe that these indications should be properly taken into account," the teams' Friday statement read.

FOTA also claims the rule change contravened Appendix 5 of the Sporting Regulations and article 199 of the International Sporting Code, where it is "too late for (the) FIA to impose a change ... that has not obtained the unanimous agreement of all the" teams.

In its own subsequent statement, in which the FIA suggests that Ecclestone "had been told that the teams were in favour" of the gold medals scheme, F1's governing body backed down.

"If, for any reason, the formula one teams do not now agree with the new system, its implementation will be deferred until 2010," the FIA said.

FOTA said the teams are willing to "collaborate with the FIA" for a jointly-defined new points system for 2010.



Tags:
Posted in:
 
Contribute
Send us a tip Comment Contact the editor
Follow Us

 

Have an opinion?Join the conversation!

  • Posting indicates you have read this site's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • Notify me when there are more comments
Comments (9)

  1. ma_Mike avatar Mike Posted: 3/17/2009 8:47pm PDT

    This promises to be very exciting! I like this better than the points system, much more straightforward. It just makes sense; if you win the most number of races, you are the champion--the best driver wins, not just the most consistent. Race to win, not just get a string of third places. Now just to find a channel that covers F1.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  2. ma_Josh b avatar Josh b Posted: 3/17/2009 11:28pm PDT

    @Mike
    couldnt agree with you more. I cant stand the lack of coverage! I have foxtel-(Australian paid TV) and no channels cover Formula 1!!!! Forget free to air, they cover it but at 1am regardless of what time the actual race is. I wish one of the many sports channels would actually cover Formula 1!
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  3. ma_www.mywheelsonwalls.com avatar www.mywheelsonwalls.com Posted: 3/18/2009 12:50am PDT

    Worst idea ever!!! Take a dominant driver and straight out of the box he wins the first nine races and you've now got a parade for the rest of the season or eight remaining races.... And tell me the winning team is not going to sand bag those eight races so as to conserve money and start developing next years car!!!

    Every decade there are always two or three drivers/teams that can pull this no so difficult achievement off. Where shall we start Lauda, Rosburg,Hunt, Rindt, Prost, Senna, Mansel, Schumacher, Alonso, Andretti the list goes on etc..
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  4. sidraja avatar Siddarth Raja Posted: 3/18/2009 2:29am PDT

    MWOW - I don't think it's possible for a team to take 9 wins straight in F1 today. The racing is just too close and now you have the upper mid-tier teams like BMW and Renault taking front grid spots once in a while. The days of Ferrari and McLaren's total dominance is over, in my opinion.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  5. ma_Aiman avatar Aiman Posted: 3/18/2009 2:47am PDT

    Al Jazeera Sports Channel covers F1 season and commentary is both in English & Arabic. FYI.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  6. ma_NaBUru38 avatar NaBUru38 Posted: 3/18/2009 8:20am PDT

    The new scoring system is terrible. Races may get more exciting, but a dominating driver may spoil the championship faster then Schumi in 2002. I believe that the scoring system should have been modified, eg 12-9-7... as proposed earlier.

    The new system is also poorly executed - they could have given 100 points to the winner and left the remaining places as in 2008 instead of mixing two criteria.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  7. ma_Suggs avatar Suggs Posted: 3/18/2009 10:00am PDT

    Now just to find a channel that covers F1.

    At least here in UK with the F1 coverage going back to the BBC means no more *bleep* advert breaks when the best of the action happens.

    Like the idea of most wins to win championship -- might make drivers go for more instead of the clinical last few years where a driver may settle for 4th if it means they have enough points to win.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  8. ma_www.mywheelsonwalls.com avatar www.mywheelsonwalls.com Posted: 3/19/2009 5:27pm PDT

    Sid- Thats just it with the cars as close as they are these days they are also incredibly reliable compared to years past. It would be safe to say that Lewis is over his junior mistakes of the past and this upcoming season he will be even tougher to beat because when it comes down to talent he has it in spades over the other drivers.

    Take Nascar with eqaul cars but when Jeff Gordon was in his A-game no one could touch him. Unfortunately such rules with which F1 is now going with ultimately favor raw talent. This year is ofcourse the first year with the new rule but its also the first year of a now very mature and very talented driver- we'll just have to see.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  9. ma_www.mywheelsonwalls.com avatar www.mywheelsonwalls.com Posted: 3/22/2009 12:12pm PDT

    Hmmm.. Hate to repeat myself but I will WORST IDEA EVER!!!!! The cars are very reliable and equal so take a guy of pure talent such as Lewis and you'll end up with nothing short of a parade.

    I say this as last summer I attended the Porsche driving school in Alabama and of the dozen plus professional drivers on staff there they all said the same thing about Hamilton. They have never seen a driver so young with so much talent. A winner takes all season is not good for the sport with him around period...
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

 

Have an opinion?Join the conversation!

Connect with Facebook

Motor Authority. Now with your friends.

Discover stories your friends read.
Share stories more easily.
You control what you share.
Learn more

Research New Cars

Go!


More from High Gear Media

 
 
MotorAuthority
  • Follow Us
  • Twiiter
  • Facebook
 
 
© 2011 MotorAuthority. All Rights Reserved. MotorAuthority is published by High Gear Media. Stock photography by Homestar, LLC. Send us feedback.