FIA: Ecclestone idea needs research

Eurosport - Fri, 12 Dec 19:02:00 2008

Bernie Ecclestone's idea to decide the Formula One drivers' title with Olympic-style medals rather than points needs further research, according to the FIA.

2008 Ecclestone - 0

"Market research is being conducted to gauge the public reaction to a number of new ideas, including possible changes to qualifying and a proposal for the substitution of medals for points for the drivers," the sport's governing body said.

"Proposals will be submitted to the FIA when the results of the market research are known."

Commercial supremo Ecclestone had proposed awarding race winners gold medals next season with the championship going to whoever won most, rather than the driver with the most points.

"I'm absolutely 100 per cent sure it's the right way to go, it'll get them (the drivers) overtaking," the 78-year-old Briton said last month.

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton became the sport's youngest champion by a single point at the age of 23 after finishing fifth in a nail biting final race in Brazil last month.

However, Ferrari's Felipe Massa, who won his home race in Brazil, would have been champion under a medals system since he had six victories to the Briton's five.

Under Ecclestone's Olympic-style system, the top three drivers in every grand prix would get gold, silver and bronze medals instead of 10, eight and six points.

Those who finished fourth and below would not get points towards the drivers' championship but their placings would count for the overall rankings.

Points would still be awarded for the constructors' championship.

Reuters

Comment 30 - 49 of 49

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  1. I agree 100% with Mr. Eccleston. The F1 would be much­ more interesting and far more competitive becasue in­ every race the drivers would like to win.

    From charro negro, on Sun 14 Dec 12:08PM

  2. What a load of @#$%. F1 is heading for a mickey mouse­ attitude. before long they will ban driving altogether­ and rig up a scalextric circuit to determine the­ champion

    From Chris, on Sun 14 Dec 10:44AM

  3. wot highly intelligent thoughtful comments 46/47

    --wot­ brains to admire

    From iigor_k, on Sun 14 Dec 9:18AM

  4. ginger, if you dress up as a NAZI tart, I'm sure­ you'll stay welcome here, post or no post,­ 4-post,...

    From pHilo, on Sun 14 Dec 8:30AM

  5. g.gcww: you left a comma out there at "...says it­ all really [,] doesn't it?" Never Y:­ You're just plain WEIRD! Maybe they can all retire­ together; Max, Bernie,...

    From pHilo, on Sun 14 Dec 8:24AM

  6. Old Fart

    From pHilo, on Sun 14 Dec 8:16AM

  7. I wonder what drugs Bernie is on . He must be on­ something with all of the stupid ideas he comes up with­ .

    From barry w w, on Sun 14 Dec 2:35AM

  8. Hell why not scrap the racing all together and get the­ countries who host the grand prix’s to pick who they­ want 1st, 2nd 3rd etc ala Eurovision Song Contest :p

    From Smoggie, on Sun 14 Dec 1:12AM

  9. Touron was around earlier.
    P1ssed a couple of people­ off and then disappeared.

    From Count Louis Zborowski, on Sat 13 Dec 11:21PM

  10. Chris T: Its been like this the last couple of days. ­ Everyone has gone!!!

    From ginger_gitt, on Sat 13 Dec 11:15PM

  11. This is weird!
    Is this the calm before the storm?

    From Count Louis Zborowski, on Sat 13 Dec 11:02PM

  12. Excellent!

    From Count Louis Zborowski, on Sat 13 Dec 10:58PM

  13. Chris T: That's the FIAs meddling. A stewards­ enquiry stripped Mclaren of their advantage (see what I­ did there?) because they are cheats and has awarded­ Ferrari a bonus 500 points for next season to­ compensate them for the inconvenience.

    From ginger_gitt, on Sat 13 Dec 10:51PM

  14. But it didn't work. Because now they all have to­ reduce their spending to make it a level playing­ field!
    So it will be fair, wont' it?
    Or will­ someone help out agaaaiiiiiiiin ? ouch ow sorry sorry­ Max.

    From Count Louis Zborowski, on Sat 13 Dec 10:40PM

  15. Chris T: I've got a new one - the current economic­ crisis is actually a Mclaren Mercedes masterplan that­ has been in the waiting for 6 years to destabalise the­ car industry and damage Fiat's financial standings­ in order to forcibly reduce the Ferrari budget within­ F1. Those dasterdly Germans from Woking have done it­ all!!!

    From ginger_gitt, on Sat 13 Dec 10:32PM

  16. That's more like it.
    And Timo Glock blah blah
    and­ crashing blah
    and spying blah
    and.... wait for­ it...favouritism shown to Hamilton and Mclaren by the­ FIA!!!
    No @#$% ! I've even heard that one too. Oh­ yes. Ferrari donated the money from the out of court­ settlement to charity!
    How kind!
    Sorry. I'm getting­ irrelevant- and irreverent! Get that whip out Max!! OW!

    From Count Louis Zborowski, on Sat 13 Dec 10:21PM

  17. Chris T: I didn't even criticise Ferrari though. ­ I didn't point out their dubious affiliation with­ the FIA, their relentless penalty free rule­ "bending", their questionnable tactical­ decisions. I refrained from anything of the sort. All­ I did was say that one of their drivers can't­ overtake people, can't race for @#$%, can only win­ from the front row, and isn't as good as Hamilton. ­ Whats wrong with that?

    Oh no, wait a minute. I see, I­ told the truth, that was my mistake. If I'd­ finished up by saying Lewis was the three-eyed demon­ love child of Ron Jeremy and a Leprechaun I might have­ been alright.

    From ginger_gitt, on Sat 13 Dec 10:14PM

  18. Is it?

    From f1junky1000, on Sat 13 Dec 10:13PM

  19. Ginger.
    You should know by now that racism, sexism,­ profanity and insults are accepted here.
    Heresy­ however, is punishable by 12 strokes from the prancing­ horse's whip- or removal of your post. OUCH!

    From Count Louis Zborowski, on Sat 13 Dec 10:05PM

  20. I don't think it needed much research!
    Just a­ "Don't be stupid Bernie" would suffice!

    From Count Louis Zborowski, on Sat 13 Dec 10:01PM
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