Points system to be scrapped for 2009

[dumrick]

It shouldn't be necessary to be on specialized forums all the time to understand a sport. I seldom watch basketball, but when I do, I still understand what's happening. For some seasons now, I can't explain someone else everything that's changing in Formula 1 so they can see the race with me (even people that used to watch it back in the 90's).

I really think the FIA and the FOM are killing F1. Slowly. The bastards.

[natef1]

Its easy to be consistent when you are driving so much slower than the leaders

So.. The Force India's last year weren't on the edge? The Honda drivers weren't pushing? You don't need to be in a good car to be on the edge.

Who was FIF1 battling at the back of the grid? each other? And BMW? 1 & 2 were so far ahead of BMW, who in turn were so far ahead or 4 &5 for most of the year that he barely had any on track battles... Kubica was further helped out by Heidfeld not being up to grips with the car so he barely had to even worry about his own teammate. There were probly times last year when he didnt see other cars on track for laps at a time.

Yes being on the edge is 1 thing, but being on that same edge while battling other drivers is a whole other next level.

All those performances are relative. The McLaren is relative to the Ferrari, with BMW behind, and Force India was relative to Honda. Do you really think Kubica was just sitting back each race thinking, "ah well, the McLarens and Ferraris are so far ahead I might as well just sit here turn the steering wheel a bit, press some pedals then go on to the next race where I can do the same"?

And again, when Fisi and Sutil were 'battling', their performance is relative since they're in the same car compared to the other teams', it doesn't mean they're not pushing or 'on the edge'. By your logic, and by saying Kubica had times where he didn't see other cars for long periods of time, basically means that in your way of thinking doing a quali lap with no other cars on track could not be 'on the edge'..

Please.

[timbo]

Problem either changes nothing (you can't take of desire to win from guy like Senna or Viellneuve) or would force teams to come up with ridiculous schemes to hunt for win.

[ISLAMATRON]

read that last sentence again..

Yes being on the edge is 1 thing, but being on that same edge while battling other drivers is a whole other next level.

If you have raced at any level you should know of what I speak.

and also have you not heard of the drivers saving the equipment in F1? Wouldn't it be most prudent to do so when you have no other cars that you are battling for position?

[ISLAMATRON]

Problem either changes nothing (you can't take of desire to win from guy like Senna or Viellneuve) or would force teams to come up with ridiculous schemes to hunt for win.

Ridiculous like short filling Alonso in Singapore and hoping for a SC? that ultimately was brought out by his own teammate just as he left pit lane? I'm not saying they did it purposefully, but it sure did luck out for them that time.

Also remember Hamilton's pass on Massa in Turkey when they realised because of tire issues they had to switch to a three stopper... what if they had started the race with that strategy?

[Metar]

Also remember Hamilton's pass on Massa in Turkey when they realised because of tire issues they had to switch to a three stopper... what if they had started the race with that strategy?

They did - they knew the catastrophic events last season, and they saw the tyre-wear during practice. They didn't go into it blindly, and halfway through decide that the tyre-wear is dangerously high on Lewis' car.

[smithmd4]

This is completely ludicrous. Congrats F1 (as it is now legally known from henceforth so all of those with short attention spans can text it easier), you've screwed the pooch more than NASCAR.

None of this improves the show. Good tracks will still produce good races. The Hangaroring & most of the Tilke tracks will still be boring as hell (but now with more crashes on SUNDAY SUNDAY SUN-DAY).

I think if we're going to do the WDC this way, we should just scrap points all together. The constructors will be determined by # of team wins. For both, in the event of a tie, you shouldn't go to a back up points tally. Instead they should just set up a giant cage at the start/finish line of the last race & have an mixed martial arts throw down. 5 rounds of 5 min each I say. And the bonus is that you can even charge more for that race if you get a triple bill. I mean, c'mon, who wouldn't want to see Ross Brawn & Martin Whitmarsh cage fight for the constructors title?

Just think of the new fans this would bring in!

I also think that the idea of GP2 as the support series should be scrapped. Instead, maybe you bring in the USLMRA. Or maybe some tractor pulls or a monster truck rally. Hell, all 3! That is some serious backyard engineering in those events for us techies!

Finally, I think the army of each host country should provide a sniper at the service of the FIA. Fan in the crowd being uncouth? Solved! Someone in danger of sealing the "Championship" up to early? Not today buddy! Hookers in the vicinity? Well, just send them to Max to deal with tersely.

I think we've made some real headway here today. Thanks for your time everyone.

PS - Islamatron is really the illegitimate love child of Bernie & Max. It's the real reason Slavica left Bernie.

[Callum]

Aww, i feel sorry for the "number two" drivers, can you imagine halfway through the season that say... Kubica has 3 wins and Heidfield has 0. If BMW are running 1-2 at a race i very much doubt they will let Heidfield take the win.

I can see the good and bad points with the new system but i'd like to have seen a bigger points difference between places 1 and 2 instead:(

If the points went 21-14-10-8-7-8 for the first 6 places that's a big enough incentive to get to first place..isnt it??

[ISLAMATRON]

8-7-8 huh... interesting system there

[natef1]

Here's a quick thought.

If the WDC at the end of this year is the one that ends up with the most points as well, does that make the FIA's decision vindicated? Just wondering.

[NDR008]

This constant mucking about until the first race of the season (and half way during the race season) really pisses me off. Not only am I pissed off at the new change, but at its timing...

Honestly, I understand why all the automotive engineers I work with all say "I used to love F1... now NASCAR is better - but ---!"

[myurr]

Here's a quick thought.

If the WDC at the end of this year is the one that ends up with the most points as well, does that make the FIA's decision vindicated? Just wondering.

No, it just shows that the FIA's decision was unwarranted and unnecessary.

[myurr]

Aww, i feel sorry for the "number two" drivers, can you imagine halfway through the season that say... Kubica has 3 wins and Heidfield has 0. If BMW are running 1-2 at a race i very much doubt they will let Heidfield take the win.

I can see the good and bad points with the new system but i'd like to have seen a bigger points difference between places 1 and 2 instead:(

If the points went 21-14-10-8-7-8 for the first 6 places that's a big enough incentive to get to first place..isnt it??

Why wait halfway through the season? If a team only has a chance at a couple of race wins and deems that one driver is more likely than the other to get those wins, then the swapping and manipulation will start from the very first race. It's game over for the number 2 drivers from the outset.

[natef1]

Here's a quick thought.

If the WDC at the end of this year is the one that ends up with the most points as well, does that make the FIA's decision vindicated? Just wondering.

No, it just shows that the FIA's decision was unwarranted and unnecessary.

Haha, yes, quite true actually, just playing devil's advocate there.

[Conceptual]

8-7-8 huh... interesting system there

Hysterical that you pick on grammar when there is no troll food about!