Formula 1's new scoring system arouses more doubt than praise

The FIA's decision to review the points system for 2009 has not received widespread support among F1 insiders. Although the principle is simply to reward the driver with the most wins in the world championship, rather than the one with the most points, the FOTA (Formula 1 Team Association) only wanted to increase the difference between first and second place by 2 or 3 points . FOTA pointed out that this proposal, which was later rejected by the FIA, was based on a survey of audiences in 17 countries around the world, raising the question of why the FIA ​​instead preferred a variation of the system idea to " medals" by Bernie Ecclestone.

"It would be a shame if, by encouraging drivers to do what they are highly paid to do - winning races - the FIA ​​adopted its own shoddy system solely to humiliate teams and rein them in as a matter of policy," reads an article in the newspaper. Guardian.

If the new system were applied retroactively to the 2008 results, Felipe Massa would have won the title. "Is the Federation willing to convince (Lewis) Hamilton?" asks the Daily Mail newspaper.

Former driver and now BBC commentator Martin Brundle told the Daily Telegraph: "What we could have is some more exciting racing, it remains to be seen whether the champion will be a more deserving driver."

F1 commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone, who last week said FIA president Max Mosley would make a better British Prime Minister than Tony Blair, has made his support for the new points system clear. “This is what I proposed, but without prizes for second and third place,” he said, “this makes the drivers aggressive for the victory, rather than finishing second. It would be a real race. It's good for the fans and for sport" added Ecclestone.

Cristina Borin