Montoya against new penalty system

It was reported yesterday that a radical overhaul of the current driver penalty system in Formula One is currently being planned by the FIA with Max Mosley, President of the sports ruling body, revealing to Autosport that he would like to implement the new system before the start of the new season.

Instead of drive through penalties that are the current penalty for an infringement on track, a ‘licence points system’ would see the drivers involved interviewed by the FIA after the race. From there the information would be analysed and if found guilty, warnings would be put in place that could result in a race ban if left unheeded.

BMW Williams driver Juan Pablo Montoya suffered at the hands of the old system at the USGP this year when he was called in for a controversial drive through penalty after his FW25 connected with the Ferrari of Rubens Barrichello. As a result of the penalty imposed, the Colombian lost any hope at winning his first championship crown, but ironically enough, he is against the proposed new system, describing it as ‘just bulls**t’.

"If we're worried about accumulating points for things then no one is going to risk anything and no body is going to pass anybody,” he said in the Guardian.

However, one driver has responded very positively to Mosley’s idea, and that’s none other than McLaren driver David Coulthard, the Scot agreeing with the FIA President that the system currently in play is far from perfect.

"I think the current system is flawed because there is an interpretation of varying stewards from race to race," he told the Guardian.