Bernie wants medals instead of points

Tuesday 18th November 2008

F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has suggested that next year's World Championship should be settled by a system of medals rather than points.

The sport's commercial rights controller believes that races will be more exciting if drivers are encouraged to go all out for victory and a gold medal, with the Championship settled according to who has the highest number.

"Everybody is happy with the idea, they are all very supportive," the 78-year-old said, when asked whether the teams supported his suggestion.

"I'm absolutely 100 percent sure it's the right way to go, it'll get them (the drivers) overtaking," he added.

Ecclestone's idea has yet to be presented to the FIA, however, with the next meeting of the governing body's world motor sport council scheduled to take place in Monaco on December 12.

The Formula One Teams Association (FOTA), representing all 10 teams, is also expected to discuss the plan at their next meeting.

If Ecclestone's idea had been adopted during the 2008 season, Felipe Massa would have become world champion rather than Lewis Hamilton.

McLaren Mercedes driver Hamilton took the title by a single point after finishing fifth in a nail-biting final race in Brazil just over a fortnight ago.

However, Ferrari driver Massa won his home race at Interlagos and scored six victories during the season to the Briton's five.

Under Ecclestone's Olympic-style system, the top three drivers in every grand prix would get gold, silver and bronze medals instead of 10, eight and six points.

Those who finished fourth and below would not get points towards the Drivers' Championship but their placings would count for the overall rankings.

Points would still be awarded for the Constructors' Championship.

Your Comments

sjlyons50

"Don't forget that while Massa had one win gifted to him 2 hours after crossing the line, he was also not docked 25 seconds for the unsafe release after the race (should have been a drive through if the stewards had the balls to deal with it in good time), which would then have been won by Hamilton with Kubica in 2nd and demoting Massa to 3rd. For an incident to take place on lap 37 of a 57 lap race to be deferred to after the end, stinks. Those 2 events would have given Hamilton another 2 wins. I have a better idea than medals or changes to the points values - get proper stewards that have no financial ties to any teams and use them from race to race. Or oust Max and Bernie."

williamsf1

"some ideas should be given some thinking before they are let out!!!!!

most probably this is one of the silliest ideas ever and should get a medal for it."

JPM1

"Bernie, you have done a lot for this sport (lots good, some bad..argueably!). This really is a bad idea, and would be yet another part of F1 that we all love being taken away....soon there will be nothing left!"

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