Formula One commercial rights holder, Bernie Ecclestone, is considering dropping the points-based drivers' championship in favour of a medal-based title race, UK newspaper, The Times reports.
Under the proposals, the winning driver will receive a gold medal, with silver and bronze for second and third places, rather than points. Anyone who finishes fourth or below would receive no points in the drivers' title race, either, but their finishing positions in each race would be important for their overall ranking. Scoring for the constructors' championship would continue on the basis of the present system.
Speaking to reporters, Ecclestone said: “The FIA and all the teams are behind it and it will be. Everybody understands gold medals and silver and bronze. Nearly all sports are done that way. The whole point will be, when they get to Melbourne (in 2009) for the first race, the guys will want to leave there with a gold medal. They don't want to leave with ten, eight or six points.”
Ecclestone believes that the medal system will reward drivers for going for a win rather than settling for the minor places. “The need for it was highlighted at the Brazilian Grand Prix at the end of this season when Hamilton only had to finish in the top five to win the title, not win. So this will encourage overtaking,” he said.
The new system will require approval by the FIA at the World Motor Sport Council meeting in December. The world governing body confirmed to UK newspaper, The Times, that the matter had been discussed by Ecclestone and FIA president, Max Mosley, but said that the fine details had yet to be worked out.
