[drugsprevi]

Maybe the medals will be really heavy so they can be used as ballast , hung around the driver's neck .
Or , maybe they could be really big , and made of chocolate , so the driver gains the ballast , himself .

Perhaps they could be cup-shaped , and the driver would have to keep the champagne in the cup for the whole race , so he'd have to have multiple cup holders if he won too many , and he'd be fined or docked positions if he lost any bubbly during the race .

[LottiFurmann]

Maybe the medals will be really heavy so they can be used as ballast , hung around the driver's neck .
Or , maybe they could be really big , and made of chocolate , so the driver gains the ballast , himself .

Perhaps they could be cup-shaped , and the driver would have to keep the champagne in the cup for the whole race , so he'd have to have multiple cup holders if he won too many , and he'd be fined or docked positions if he lost any bubbly during the race .

No, he'll be made to drink the champagne before the race

[IssuessBratte]

Here we go again

Why do they want to keep (excuse the pun) meddling with the sport

When you dig down deep enough, you will see some logic behind Bernies perceived bull.

Having 3 medals is obviously impractical but a way of getting people to toe the line about something else.

I have long said there should be a different points system with something like:

1st - 15
2nd - 10
3rd - 7
4th - 5
5th - 4
6th - 3
7th - 2
8th - 1

Gives points down the field but if your not in the top 3, you're going to suffer.

When the difference between 1st and 3rd is 4 points, why take the risk of losing 6 whereas when 1st to 2nd is 5 points, it makes a big difference.

[drugsprevi]

Flowers . That's the answer to all this .

Give the drivers a bouquet of flowers for a win , and lesser bouqets for second and third , and they have to keep adding that little packet of "keep the flowers fresh" stuff at every pitstop , adding precious seconds .
Leaves and petals could be examined after the race in parc ferme to determine the sanctions .
Aphids , thrips , and scale bugs would throw in a whole new dimension , where only certain pesticides would be allowed .
Bonus points could be given for growth , and this will hopefully inspire the adoption of the "greenhouse wing" , and the recycling of the tire warmers for heating the greenhouse , when China moves it's race to Tibet , where it's cold .

It would fall in with the green initiative at the same time .

[LottiFurmann]

Well you could give medals and have no points but still give the lower teams something to fight for.

i.e. The winner is the one with the most wins, then if they are tied it goes off silver medals and then from bronze medals, that's how the olympics works

Now there is no reason why you can't carry that on down the placings so it goes off number of 4th places, 5th places, etc etc. That way, especially for the lower teams, every result counts not just finishing in the top 8.

So on first glace you'd think the medal system would only mean racing for the top 3 but it could promote tougher racing right down the field.

[Gintovtosik]

For once I agree with the general gist of what Bernie is getting at.

Of course, it doesn't change the fact that he and Max are still the biggest planks in the universe and if they get their way F1 will be dead by 2010, but anyway...

He's still approaching it the wrong way though. I agree that winners should be rewarded more, but, well, that's all I agree with.

It's nice when the championship comes down to the final race of the season, but it certainly shouldn't be expected as a birthright or taken for granted, we should just appreciate it on the occasions it does happen.

The problem is when people, i.e. Bernie, start to want a title decider at the final race at all costs, knowing how mentally ill Max has got over the past few months, we will basically end up with F1's very own equivalent of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. *shudders*

As for the medal system, it would totally skew the history of the championship. The championship has always been points-based, with minor tweaks over time, and thats the way it should stay. Just give the winner 12 points.

[LottiFurmann]

The current point system was brought into replace 10-6-4-3-2-1 because Schumacher kept winning and thus winning the championship too early. The idea was to make a win less of a big deal and thus make sure Schumacher doesn't win as quickly with 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 but now they are saying the opposite?!

Personally I don't mind if the championship is won before the final race. It's quite refreshing to have a bit of a 'non-championship' race.

[Gintovtosik]

The current point system was brought into replace 10-6-4-3-2-1 because Schumacher kept winning and thus winning the championship too early. The idea was to make a win less of a big deal and thus make sure Schumacher doesn't win as quickly with 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 but now they are saying the opposite?!

Personally I don't mind if the championship is won before the final race. It's quite refreshing to have a bit of a 'non-championship' race.

Exactly. If somebody kicks everyone's arse over the course of the season, they deserve to wrap it up early. Plus some of the best racing has traditionally come at the end of the season after the championship is wrapped up, because the drivers can let loose to some degree and just focus on winning the race without having to "drive for points".

I'm not sure on a return to 10-6-4-3-2-1 though, as while yes it is simple, rewards victory, and the winner gets a nice round number, I think in this era of ultra-reliability points need to go to at least the first eight finishers. To be honest given the extra reliability, eighth today is probably worth what sixth was 10-15 years ago, so that's fair in my book.

Having said all that, there's a school of thought that says that Grand Prix racing would be much better off as it was pre-1950, where there was no championship and it was winning each individual major Grand Prix that carried the prestige (this was still the case in the formative years of the championship as well).

Much like golf and tennis today I guess, a win at Wimbledon or The Open is remembered a lot more than being top of the rankings or order of merit or whatever at the end of the year.

[Khcyhshq]

I agree with Bernie's idea. Spot on.

[Hankie]

I am so happy that Indy Car is united now. I won't have to bother with Bernie's so called sport. This is the worst idea ever. Makes NASCAR playoffs look tremendous. What about midfield teams, buddy? And IMO consistency is very important part of motorsport.
Sucker.

[shanice]

I say go back to 10, 6, 4, 3, 2, 1. The problem of competitiveness is solving itself. With Schumacher gone, Ferrari is no longer the awe of the F1 community & even McLaren-Mercedes are losing ground rapidly to BMW Sauber & Renault & Toyota will only improve, as will Red Bull. Put simply it's getting tighter & tighter now that the man-to-beat is gone. Some say go for 12, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 & on paper that seems fair, but I'd rather it be a top-six tier.

[soonahonsefalh]

I say go back to 10, 6, 4, 3, 2, 1. The problem of competitiveness is solving itself. With Schumacher gone, Ferrari is no longer the awe of the F1 community & even McLaren-Mercedes are losing ground rapidly to BMW Sauber & Renault & Toyota will only improve, as will Red Bull. Put simply it's getting tighter & tighter now that the man-to-beat is gone. Some say go for 12, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 & on paper that seems fair, but I'd rather it be a top-six tier.

But surely with new regulations next year there's an increased chance that one team will get it right and run away with the championship. Even last year Ferrari and McLaren were clear at the top, with BMW a distinct 3rd, so under the old system the other 8 teams would have scored very few points. Dominance in F1 comes and goes, it's not like Schumacher's 2002 and 2004 titles were the only dominant titles ever, and short of spec chassis and engines they probably won't be the last either.

[ASSESTYTEAH]

Exactly, this season and last have been more open than it has been for a long time.

I do sort of agree that winning should be rewarded, rather than just consistency. The balance of points should favour the winners.

Of course it has, 7 different winners for 5 different teams, most open season since 2003.

Changing it to a medals system would be ridiculous, remember Minardi, to them finishing in a points position was like a win for them, and isnt that what F1 is all about, well not according to Ecclestone, he doesnt give a damn unless he keeps raking in the millions.

[mbaueee]

Points need to stay. Full stop. Why? Because points are a measure of success. Under Bernie's system, it would completely screw up the championship, and drivers would finish in undeserved positions.

For example, someone with 1 podium finish would be classified above someone who has finished 4th 10 times. That would be completely ridiculous in my opinion.

Another example is this year, David Coulthard would finish above Mark Webber in this year's standings, despite Webber having 9 points finishes and 1 points compared to DC's 2 points finishes and just 8 points.

I agree with giving 1st 12 points, but a couple of years ago I was experimenting with points systems, and I have two possible alternatives.

One is the MotoGP points system, which could be fun, but would result in a ridiculous amount of points rendering all points records completely useless in a matter of a few seasons.

The other one was 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 for the first 10 drivers. Yes there are a lot of points being given out, but with good reliability rates 10 points scorers isn't too bad, and there is a gap of 3 between 1st and 2nd.

To be honest, I think we should keep the current system.

[Avoireeideree]

Oh dear me,I thought the FIA saved all their crazy ideas for the WRC - it appears not. This is just more meddling; there is Promoting a sport and meddlingg with a sport - Bernie is meddling. If the Championship is won in August - TOUGH!!! It's up to the competition to do something about it. I would change the points system though - only a 2 point difference between 1st & 2nd isn't enough. As we've seen in the WRC, Loeb has won 10 out of 13 but could still theoretically lose the title if the car lets him down - totally insane - anybody who dominates that much deserves the Title.
If there was 26-30 cars I'd go for the MotoGP points system, but as there is only 20 cars, that is a no-no. What about 12-8-6-5-4-3-2-1??

Medals,..........whatever next,........brolly girls for the top 3!!

[dXI9XFOA]

...7 different winners for 5 different teams, most open season since 2003.

That's Bernie's definition of one-sided!

[LottiFurmann]

Remeber that Massa and Hamilton only have 5 wins apiece because Hamiltons win was taken off him and given to Massa. So without FIA interference it would be Hamilton 6, Massa 4, and thusly Hamilton would already be world champion.

[Hankie]

This example is not relevant, it is different year and I respect FIA's decision, but the Bernie's idea is ridiculous. Imagine a guy with 7 victories and 9 retirements beating a guy with 6 victories and 16 podiums. It is not fair. Sorry. Constistency is very important. It is part of the game.

[Emedgella]

F1 should go back to the old 10-6-4-3-2-1 points system. It worked well for a long time. So what if a team gets it right and dominates. Thats what F1 is about, being the best. Teams and drivers that get it right shouldnt be penalised for doing a good job while the other stuff around.

F1 needs to shine up or I wont be watching it in the near future. Stuff the proposed crappy mickey mouse changes we have every year, give me cars with reduced aero, slick tyres and no ABS.

[Eunatis]

The points system used to be 9,6,4,3,2,1
it was changed to 10,6,4,3,2,1 to reward the winner
MS dominated and won the ch'ship "too early", so they tried to reward consistency with the 10,8,6,5,4,3,2,1
Now, he wants to keep the championship going for longer by rewarding the winner again? LOL!

And Bernie complains that Lewis isn't racing for wins? They penalise anyone who tries to race. Stop penalising racing incidents and they might see more action!

What will Bernie think of next? How about:

10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1 points system

If u think about it, the best way to keep yr championship going for as long as possible is to not reward the early season winners... but then, you'll be left with what Bernie has now... Because of the small points difference, early season winners only have to finish (not race to the end) to win overall.

If we run through previous seasons (including those that were dominated by a single driver) would Bernie's new idea still work? Would those seasons have gone on for longer before the championship was finally won?