Formula 1: F1 in Disarray Over Scoring Plan

Page last updated at 19:07 GMT, Friday, 20 March 2009

F1 in disarray over scoring plan:

The new season starts with the Australian Grand Prix on 29 March Formula 1 has axed plans for a new scoring system in 2009, just nine days before the start of the season. The sport's governing body, FIA, announced earlier this week that the driver with the most wins would be crowned world champion. But following a protest from F1 teams, FIA says it will defer the introduction of the new system until 2010. The traditional points system will be used when the 2009 season begins on 29 March with the Australian Grand Prix. The teams wish to reaffirm their willingness to collaborate with the FIA in order to jointly define a new point system for the 2010 season Fota statement A FIA spokesman told BBC Sport: "The new scoring system has been deferred until 2010, but I'm sure this will be reviewed throughout the course of the season as any new rule changes have to have teams approval before we proceed. "We're slightly surprised that the teams have taken this long to come forward as we were under the impression that they were happy with the rule changes." FIA had argued that the new scoring system would make racing more exciting by encouraging drivers to chase wins. But several drivers, among them defending champion Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, criticised the change. That prompted Friday's statement from Formula One Teams' Association (Fota), which claimed the amendment was invalid because the proper protocol had not been observed. "It is 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," it read. Fota had put forward its own scoring system, with the top three drivers earning 12, nine and seven, rather than 10, eight and six points respectively. But that was unanimously rejected by the World Motorsport Council (WMSC). Instead, the WMSC opted for a variant of an earlier idea proposed by F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, who had suggested an Olympic-style medals system, with the champion the driver with most golds. The WMSC approved the "race-wins" plan, albeit with no provision to award medals. Fota, which insists its own plan has widespread backing, hopes common ground can be reached with the FIA. "The teams wish to reaffirm their willingness to collaborate with the FIA in order to jointly define a new point system for the 2010 season within a comprehensive set of measures aimed at further stimulating the attractiveness of the F1 sport," added the statement. Hamilton would have finished second behind Ferrari's Felipe Massa had the new system applied last year. The McLaren driver clinched the title after overtaking on the final bend of the final lap of the final race.