23/03/2009
NEWS STORY
Despite having his points system 'knocked back' by FOTA, Bernie Ecclestone insists that his controversial 'winner takes all' scoring system will be introduced in 2010.
For some time, Ecclestone has been pushing for a new system whereby the top three drivers would be awarded medals, the winner receiving gold, runner-up silver and third placed driver bronze. At the end of the season, the World Champion would be the driver with the most gold medals.
The system was not popular with the public, the teams or even the FIA, however, last week the World Motor Sport Council agreed on a revised points system for 2009 which, though it didn't include medals, would see the title go to the driver with the most wins.
Having previously proposed their own points system, which would essentially see a bigger gap between the points on offer for a win and second place, the teams - under the guise of the Formula One Constructors' Association - were clearly unhappy and claimed that the new system was "not performed in accordance with the procedure provided for by Appendix 5 of the Sporting Regulations and, as per the provisions of the article 199 of the FIA International Sporting Code".
Furthermore, FOTA claimed that it was "too late for FIA to impose a change for the 2009 season that has not obtained the unanimous agreement of all the competitors properly entered into the 2009 Formula 1 Championship".
The FIA which assumed Ecclestone's 'winner takes all' system had the backing of the teams, subsequently backed down, and announced that the system would be postponed until next season.
While the teams, and fans, breathed a sigh of relief, Ecclestone was quick to warn that the system will be in place next year, whether the teams (and fans) like it or not.
"It will be supported by the FIA and it will be in the regulations," he told BBC Radio 5 Live, "so when the people enter the championship, that's what the regulation will be."
Asked if he was disappointed the system has been deferred for a year, he replied: "Absolutely. If you go to the athletics and look at the 100m you're not looking at the guy that's second, you're looking at the winner."
Explaining FOTA's stance and the subsequent volte face from the governing body, he said: "To make any changes when the entries have closed, you have to get a unanimous agreement between all the people that have entered, and it would appear that some of the teams didn't like the idea.
"The whole idea is nothing to do with winning the world championship, the idea was to make sure people raced in every race to win, not to be second or third and collect points."
Dismissing widespread claims that the 'winner takes all' system could damage the sport and lead to the title being decided long before the final race of the season, the Englishman said: "That's too bad. Maybe they'd be watching the other races where the people are racing to win rather than be second.
"Lewis last year was second in a couple of races he could easily have won," Ecclestone continued, "and he was quite right in being second. However, if I'd have been his team manager I'd have been complaining if he'd been racing to win, in case there was a problem in the car or he fell off the road."
Ironically, as the FIA pointed out in January, had a 'winner takes all' system been in place throughout the entire history of the sport, "Brabham under the ownership of Bernie Ecclestone would have won no Drivers' Championships".