FIA to delay new system
The FIA have averted a potential row with the Formula One Teams' Association by agreeing to defer their controversial new 'winner-takes-all' system until 2010.
Just two hours after FOTA voiced an official protest to the plan, whereby the driver with most race wins becomes F1 champion, motor sport's world governing body reacted swiftly.
A FIA statement read: "On 17 March, the FIA World Motor Sport Council unanimously rejected FOTA's proposed amendment to the points system for the Formula One Drivers' Championship. The 'winner-takes-all' proposal made by the commercial rights holder (Bernie Ecclestone, who had been told the teams were in favour) was then approved. If, for any reason, the Formula One teams do not now agree with the new system, its implementation will be deferred until 2010."
FOTA had earlier made it clear they felt the new system had no validity, that the FIA had gone beyond the bounds of their own sporting regulations.
According to FIA, the WMSC acted on the word of Ecclestone who apparently claimed all the teams were in support, and it is on that basis the new controversial plan was adopted.
Last year Ecclestone had expressed his displeasure a driver could win the title under the current points system - 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 - without really pushing himself to victory in each race.
The 78-year-old supremo suggested an Olympic-style medal system, with the driver taking most golds becoming champion.
FOTA's own proposal, based on a worldwide fans' survey, was for a revamp of the current points system, with the top three drivers earning 12, nine and seven points respectively. However, that was unanimously rejected by the WMSC, who instead opted for a variant of Ecclestone's idea, albeit with no provision to award medals.
FOTA quickly convened, and following a meeting they "unanimously agreed to question the validity" of the WMSC's decision.
Their statement read: "Since the change to the scoring system unanimously agreed by the teams and proposed to the FIA did not receive approval of the WMSC, no change can occur in 2009."
