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."

Your Comments

untac93

"The medal system in A1GP only replaces the trophies, they are still awarded points down to 10th with a bonus point for the fastest lap. The winner only recieves 15 points and it works.

People have forgotten what a championship is..... Its the person/team with the most points at the end of a season wins their respective championship.

In 1967 Denny Hulme won the championship with 2 wins and 51 points from the great Jim Clark, 4 wins and 41 points, in fact Jimmy only came 3rd in the championship with Sir Jack Brabham coming 2nd with 2 wins and 46 points. You didn't see people crying foul because the had more wins, in fact they were gentlemen and sportsmen where they congratulated the champion for being consistant through out the whole season. Thats where that famous saying comes from, "To finish first, first you have to finish"."

Big_Als_Dad

"I am totally against the medals idea. It gives no incentive to mid-grid teams. They might as well pack up and go home after the first few laps.

I agree that the points differential for a win should be higher and that it was a mistake to only award points to the first eight places when the points system was changed in 2003. They should look at the points system in Moto GP"

enzo_kemm

"Its not a matter of not liking change!. personally i think the current system is fine!.. a champion doesnt not have to have the fastest car, but he should also be consistent. Therefore the way it is now is the best,m Any change, might spoil things "

turcon2

"I would change the sistem completelly.

I would give points to evey single car on track, let's say it start with 50 points to the winner, then you come down until one point to the last.

This way gives flexibility, since you can do a 10 points diference between first and second, or more, and everybody is rewarded. At the end of the season everybody will have points, instead of now, when 3, 4, 5, drivers are tied with no points......

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