Under new rules released overnight the 2009 Formula One world driver’s championship will be awarded to the driver with the most wins, irrespective of points scored. Were these same rules in place for last season’s drama filled final race then Felipe Massa would have been the one celebrating in the picture above, having won six races to Lewis Hamilton’s five. Of course, Hamilton sensationally clinched the title in the last lap, securing the fifth position he needed to win the title by a single point.
The familiar 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 points system will be kept however, and will be used to determine the minor placings once the world champion has been decided.
The potential for farce is high with this system, although, such things usually have a way of sorting themselves out. That said, being used to the system that has decided the driver’s title for over 50 years it will be odd if the second placd driver in the 2009 season has a healthy points advantage over the driver with the most wins. Let’s hope natural justice sorts itself out and the right driver wins the title under the right circumstances.
However, if we cast an eye over all previous F1 seasons then this new system would have affected the results of no less than 13 seasons. Crucially, for Australian readers, Alan Jones would be a dual world champion having won the most races in 1979 as well as 1980, his world championship winning year. Thankfully the BBC has done the legwork for us and a full list of affected world titles can be read HERE.
In other F1 news, teams can opt to break free from the strict in-season testing freezes if they agree to limit spending in any one season to £30M. Hmm, can anyone see salary cap style rorting rearing its ugly head in F1?
Source: Formula1.com
4 replies on “Formula One adopts ‘must win’ strategy”
Everyone keeps saying that Massa would have won if this new system was put in place last year. As much as I hate Lewis and love Ferrari, I have to say that it may not have been the case as drivers will no longer settle for second or third positions and will be taking more risk to win races. I think this is a good thing for us!
Not everyone, mostly just Bernie. The point system didnt prevent Massa winning. You may recall Massa getting about Singapore with half a fuel rig on his car.
You jinxed him by turning up Stubz!
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