- 17 Mar 09, 22:34#94964-Sigh-
So here we are the again, another contentious issue grips the Formula One world and only adds to the already pulsating build up to this years Championship. The revelations of today’s World Council meeting are sure to have an effect on the sport in general - whether positive or negative, only time will tell.
The big talking point among many of the Formula One fans is that of the change of the points system. Instead of adopting the more favoured FOTA proposals, the FIA have reverted back to a system similar to that of 1988-1991 where a Champion will only be crowned by winning the most races. Unfortunately I find this system has too many flaws - It didn’t work then, and it won’t work now.
As Winter testing has shown, we are in for one of the closest seasons of Grand Prix racing in living memory, so much so that a variety of winners could be expected. In 1988 however, it was clear by the third race of the season that only two drivers (Senna and Prost) had a real shot at winning the title. In this case the system appeared to work, despite much protest from Alain Prost who’s would prove to be a leading figure behind the more favoured points system. Over the period of 88-90 Prost was the more consistent finisher to Senna, scoring more points finishes than his rival who claimed his two titles due to scoring more race victories.
The truth is, that was then and this is now. Should a driver really be crowned World Champion if all he has to do is win the majority of the races and then not care where he finishes the rest? This opens up another criticism of the FIA’s proposals. If the title race ends early (like it possibly could in future), then doesn’t that dispel their reasoning behind adopting this system in the first place? For example, If Massa wraps up the majority of wins by Mid Season he will certainly not have any added reason to attempt to win the remaining races. Instead he can quite happily pick up points for the constructors championship, safe in the knowledge he has nothing to risk.
Furthermore, what does today’s decision say about FOTA? I was never a fan of rewarding points for Pole Position, but their planned points system was very fair and presented the FIA with the very impetus of winning races that they were pushing for.
The truth is, the idea of medals never went away. It simply lurked, while the fans and media congregated around new car launches, and the future of Brawn GP. Although the little round medallions have been put back in their drawer, Eccelstone has still got what he wanted. How Formula One has changed in these last three decades. During this time the FIA President and commerical rights holder have morphed into the very figures they were fighting against when they were on the side of the teams in that ill fated fiasco. Now they simply beat down the vital organs of the sport. Mosley has said that FOTA’s cost cutting measures aren’t good enough, as economic times have worsened since they were agreed. So why has the FIA president imposed his own budget proposals without the consent of the teams? Why has FOTA been bypassed so easily? Surely its legitimacy must now be questioned?
On a final note, I would really like to find out who were the participants of the FIA’s market research. Surely they haven’t been watching the same Formula One as we have?
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