Formula one teams will discuss Bernie Ecclestone's 'medals' scoring system for the first time this week, according to BMW Sauber chief Mario Theissen.

The German said Ecclestone, who insists the new system will be in place for 2009 having achieved the support of the teams, had been premature in his declarations.

"(This week) will be the first time this topic has been discussed by the teams at all," he told reporters at BMW's end of season party in Munich, referring to the forthcoming meeting of the Formula One Teams' Association.



Theissen said there is a chance the proposal will be supported, but indicated there are arguments 'for and against' its merits.

More likely to gain the support of teams is a shake-up for the qualifying system, including a possible point for pole position.

Source: GMM
© CAPSIS Internationa

 

There goes Bernie again, making stuff up to suit his own personal agenda to run F1 racing into the ground. The medal system seems like a bad idea because I'm nearly certain it'd spell the end for every team except Ferrari, McLaren, Renault and BMW. All of the smaller teams wouldn't stand a chance at making it to the podium consistently enough to get any points and justify the huge pricetag that F1 carries. I do like the idea of points for pole positions though. I'm glad they'll be waiting to implement it until next year though. If they had put it into place this year, Massa would've won.

 

As ever, plenty for FOTA to discuss
Formula One team bosses have travelled to Geneva, Switzerland, for Thursday's meeting of the FOTA alliance.

We previously reported that the sport's ten teams intend to discuss Bernie Ecclestone's proposed 'medals' scoring system for the first time, as well as a possible shake-up for the qualifying format.

More pressing on the agenda, however, is cost-cutting, under the threat that FIA President Max Mosley will impose draconian measures if the teams cannot themselves propose worthwhile money-saving proposals.

With Mosley already threatening to proceed with engine standardisation, the pressure is on FOTA to put together a cohesive package before next week's meeting of the FIA's World Motor Sport Council.

"A lot has been defined for 2009, more is to come for 2010 and 2011 to reduce costs and improve the show.
These are the leading principles," Ferrari spokesman Luca Colajanni confirmed to The Guardian newspaper.

Believed to be the most radical of the proposals for discussion is a move from 2.4 litre V8 engines for 2011 to fuel-efficient turbo 1.8 litre engines.

This specification, using about 30 percent less fuel than the current engines, could pave the way for a ban on mid-race refuelling.

Source: GMM
© CAPSIS International
source[f1-live.com]

 

Wtf......are they trying to kill the sport?

 

Yes.

I understand why they want to lower costs, but their ideas are just horrible. Why not just put a spending cap on the teams instead?

 

exactly

 

The F1 teams' alliance FOTA last Thursday kicked off discussions about Bernie Ecclestone's proposals for an Olympic Games-style 'medals' scoring system.

The 78-year-old F1 chief executive seems to have jumped the gun recently, when he declared that "all the teams are happy ... and the FIA are happy" to proceed with his idea to ditch the current system of awarding drivers' points down to eighth place.

A discussion among the teams actually commenced only in Geneva last Thursday, meaning it is not known if Ecclestone's concept will have the requisite support when the World Motor Sport Council meets in the coming days.

"We are discussing this issue in FOTA and we have not come to a clear opinion as yet," BMW Sauber team boss Mario Theissen told DNA India in an interview.

"However, we will soon come to a joint conclusion and respond to Bernie's proposal. It won't be fair to express an opinion now," the German said.


In the wake of Honda's shock announcement on Friday that it is leaving the sport, FIA President Max Mosley ridiculed the idea of shaking up the points system as akin to worrying about "the colour of the wallpaper when you're on a sinking ship."

He subsequently told the Press Association: "I'd be inclined to go for medals, but I'd really like to listen to what everybody says about it because when you make these big changes, sometimes there are unintended consequences."

"My real preference would be to ask the public. I think we ought to do a bit of market research," said Mosley.

© CAPSIS International
Source: GMM