Semi-confirmed:Points system to be scrapped -Medals to be introduced in time for 2009

[Giuseppe F1]

I hate, hate, hate this idea!

All the websites and magazines and forums will now be full of threads of the actual (medal) orders, and then what WOULD have been the situation had the points system remained unchanged - "Oh Massa is 1st but he would have been 4th etc, etc."

From Bernies latest quotes below, it seems this has now all but been confirmed by the FIA and teams and just needs to be officially confirmed at the FIAs December meeting -

So next year we have the but-ugliest looking F1 cars ever and tacky instead of points....will the drivers still get trophys in lieu of medals on the podium?

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http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headline...18091013.shtml

Points system to be scrapped
Medal system for the 2009 season
18/11/08 09:10

Bernie Ecclestone is confident his plan to replace the current points system with Olympic Games-style 'medals' will be introduced in time for the 2009 season opener.

The F1 Chief Executive revealed recently he wants the drivers on the podium to be presented gold, silver and bronze medals, rather than awarded ten, eight and six points respectively.

The change, he argues, will rid the sport of the situation of the 2008 series finale in Brazil, where Lewis Hamilton was able to finish just fifth and still be crowned world champion.

If Ecclestone's new system had been in place, the McLaren driver and Felipe Massa would have been tied on five gold medals apiece, setting up a dash to be first to the chequered flag and the title.

It is believed that points will still be awarded to the teams for the constructors' championship on the basis of the current system.

Drivers finishing races 'out of the medals', meanwhile, will not score points, but their finishing positions over the season will determine their championship ranking.


Ecclestone, 78, told The Times: "The FIA and all the teams are behind it and it will be done."

He insists that the system will ensure that the emphasis of the front-running drivers' approach to races will be on winning, rather than scoring good points.

"The whole point will be, when they get to Melbourne for the first race, the guys will want to leave there with a gold medal. They (will not) want to leave with ten, eight or six points," Ecclestone said.

The matter has been discussed by FIA President Max Mosley, but the details are yet to be worked out.

Ecclestone's system will require ratification by the World Motor Sport Council at its December meeting.

Source: GMM
© CAPSIS International

[Giuseppe F1]

Bernie says that this is to put emphasis on the top guys to win rather than settle for points.

Problem is, not everyone is a "top guy" or in a podium winning car so what is the motivation for drivers in the now very competitive F1 midfield?

To race for 'classification' rather than 'points' - just seems so unneccasary!

OK, Lewis won the title by only crossing the line in 5th but.....SO WHAT?!!!!!!!

This is a title which runs over a WHOLE SEASON and it was just a point that he finished 5th in that race, he still won others which put him in that position for the title in the first place.

Massa finished races lower than 1st and so if he won the title in Brazil by finished 1st, it just would have been the chance that the 1st occured at the final race to make it all the more dramatic.

A championship is one over a WHOLE SEASON and not a SINGLE RACE.

An F1 season is not a 'RACE OF CHAMPIONS' style shoot-out and never will be




LEAVE THINGS ALONE!!!

[Knock-on]

Perhaps they will have 8 medals per race?

Gold
Silver
Bronze
Steel
Aluminium
Cast Iron
Plastic
Paper Mache

[Ranger]

Idiocy. His senility has caught up to him.

If a championship being decided on the last lap is not good enough, then nothing will be.

He can change the points system if he must. Medals will add nothing. Only take away the tradition of the sport. But that's the way it seems to be these days.

[ArrowsFA1]

Bernie says that this is to put emphasis on the top guys to win rather than settle for points.

I can understand that. It's the Olympic argument isn't it. Hundreds, thousands, of athletes aim to win a gold medal but they and we know very few will reach that goal, but that doesn't stop them from trying.

Problem is, not everyone is a "top guy" or in a podium winning car so what is the motivation for drivers in the now very competitive F1 midfield?

The motivation is to improve and get into the top three.

I haven't decided what I think about this. It's still effectively a points system after all, but one which only rewards the top three.

[Ranger]

The 10-6-4-3-2-1 points scheme never seemed to promote cruising for points. I don't see why that can't just be reverted to instead of this medals rubbish.

[ShiftingGears]

How tacky. Oh how I yearn for him to go away.

[ChrisS]

So will a driver with 1 gold and no other medals finish the season higher that a driver with no golds but 10 silvers?

If this system was in place in 08 would DC with one 3rd finish higher than Webber?

[I am evil Homer]

God what a horrific idea...so you get a medal and a trophy in one ceremony?!?

[Knock-on]

So will a driver with 1 gold and no other medals finish the season higher that a driver with no golds but 10 silvers?

If this system was in place in 08 would DC with one 3rd finish higher than Webber?

Apparently