Planet-F1

FIA & teams to oppose Bernie's medal scheme

Monday 1st December 2008

Bernie Ecclestone's plans to introduce medals into Formula One looks likely to be shot down by both the FIA and the teams, according to the British press.

Ecclestone recently revealed that he would like to see gold, silver and bronze medals awarded instead of points as he believes this would encourage attacking racing.

"I am fed up with people talking about there being no overtaking. The reason there is no overtaking is nothing to do with the circuits or the cars - it's because the drivers don't need to overtake," the F1 supremo recently said.

"If you are in the lead and I'm second, I'm not going to take a chance and risk falling off the road or doing something silly to get two more points.

"If I need to do it to win a gold medal, because the most medals win the World Championship, I'm going to do that. I will overtake you."

However, the idea looks set to be shot down as according to the Telegraph Sport, not only has no formal proposal been presented to the FIA but 'several teams also understood to have misgivings.'

Meanwhile Professor Steffen Huck, who is the Head of Economics at UCL and an expert in the understanding of incentives, reckons Ecclestone's plan is flawed.

"The medal system only incentivises the top," he told the Telegraph. "But there are other undesirable consequences as well.

"First, teams and drivers would have to take riskier strategies - causing more crashes, and causing more mechanical and engine failures which will drive up the costs. We have already seen this incentive effect operating in the reverse direction when the new points system was introduced in 2003.

"Secondly, the Championship could easily be decided after just two thirds of the season and in 2004 it would have been over by the halfway mark."

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