17/03/2009
NEWS STORY
The FIA has announced that from this year, the Drivers' World Championship title will be decided on race wins as opposed to points.
At today's meeting of the FIA's World Motor Sport Council, FOTA's proposal for an overhaul of the current points system was rejected, and while Bernie Ecclestone's plan to award medals rather than points was thrown out, the championship will be decided on race wins as he had proposed.
Announcing the change, the FIA ruled: "The WMSC accepted the proposal from Formula One Management to award the drivers' championship to the driver who has won the most races during the season.
"If two or more drivers finish the season with the same number of wins, the title will be awarded to the driver with the most points, the allocation of points being based on the current 10, 8, 6 etc. system.
"The rest of the standings, from second to last place, will be decided by the current points system. There is no provision to award medals for first, second or third place. The Constructors' Championship is unaffected."
Had this system been in place in 2008, Felipe Massa would have won the title.