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The Reuters global sports blog
Anyone still want medals to decide F1 title?
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If Bernie Ecclestone had got his way before the start of the season, Jenson Button might have been crowned Formula One champion in Singapore on Sunday.
The commercial supremo’s plan for the championship to be decided by an Olympic-style medals system, with the title going to the driver taking most golds, would have left Brawn’s Button out of reach.
With six wins in the first seven races, the Briton’s tally cannot now be matched by anyone else.
Singapore winner Lewis Hamilton, Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel and Button’s Brazilian team mate Rubens Barrichello all have two wins with three races left.
The only interest in Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix would have been the constructors’ championship and it is pretty much a given now anyway that Brawn will win it in their first full season.
Brazil and Abu Dhabi, making its debut with what promises to be the most lavish race yet, would have been irrelevant in the grand scheme of things.
As it is, Button has edged 15 points clear of Barrichello and could win the title at Suzuka. But the battle could equally very well go down to the wire as well. There is still plenty at stake.
Of course, this is all assuming that under the winner-takes-all system, drivers would have raced in the same way as they have this season where points are what really matter — and that’s a big if.
“If my aunt had balls, she’d be my uncle,” as David Coulthard likes to say.
Watching Button ease back behind Vettel in Singapore on Sunday, despite the Red Bull being clearly stricken after shedding various bits and pieces, gave some justification to Ecclestone’s view that medals would at least get drivers racing, although maybe not for fourth place.
Does anyone still think the winner-takes-all medals system is a good idea?
PHOTO: Brawn GP Formula One driver Jenson Button of Britain smiles while walking on the grid before the Singapore F1 Grand Prix at the Marina Bay street circuit September 27, 2009. REUTERS/Vivek Prakash
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I back the current points system as Button could basically have retired halfway through the season and still would have won. That cant be good
Both systems have flaws, and they complement each other. The current points system leads to relatively dull races as there isn’t much racing, just lots of pit strategy and lapping. Bernie’s “medal’s” system would make for more racing, until the championship is decided, which could be way too early in the season. So how ’bout this. Offer more points. Points for setting pole, setting fastest lap, finishing the race, passing on track (none of this silly pit strategy passing crap). Turn 1 at Hungary in 2008 demonstrates that even in with the overly aero-sensitive cars it IS possible to pass if you have the cajones to try it and make it stick. Under the current rules the incentives are stronger to simply finish the race than to risk passing. Sure, constancy means a lot, but so do raw speed and guts. The scoring system needs to reflect the importance of all of these measures.
no!!! Rubbish idea to award medals over points!! Sorrell is right, Ecclescake is losing the plot!!! #:)
I liked the idea given by kristopher.. Is it possible to merge point and award system together?
A medal system a rubbish idea. What kristopher says can work, since the constructors championship is also based on how much points the driver scores, so the entire points system has to be divided, when this happens too many calculations and complications will arise. It all depends on FIA are ready for this, divide the points among the pole, fastest lap, pit crew and so on.