The New Points System Withdrawn

The FIA has withdrawn the "winner takes all" points system. There was plenty of opposition to this sytem, from namely Formula One Teams Association (FOTA), seven-time champion Michael Schumacher, the ruling world champion Lewis Hamilton and other drivers.

I believe this is the correct decision. As I commented in my previous post, this is a year full of changes. As an ordinary viewer of races, the F1 circus should allow us the opportunity to fully digest the visibly different cars, the new rules (tyres, KERS, aerodynamics), and the move to BBC.

I see the logic in Bernie's comments. He wants the racing to go on until the last corners of every race, and there is some reward for us ordinary folks. However, for some of us, the strategy behind the approach to races, the juggling of variables that the teams go through, is also equally important. What is McLaren's approach in the last race of the 2008 season. So Mr. Ecclestone, please allow us some to digest this new Formula 1, and not always focus on having highest TV audiences.

A side comment before I close: this whole saga with the new points system has shone some light on the decision making process at the FIA. It seems that nobody at the FIA "thinks things through". Formula One Management aka Bernie Ecclestone and the FOTA aka the teams, do what serves their interest the most. My impression of the FIA has gone down a couple of notches. Perhaps, I shouldn't be so naive.