Tiny billionaire criticises Lewis for not racing to win, wants new scoring system with medals instead of points
Wee Bernie Ecclestone says he never wants to see such a one-sided ending to an F1 season again - Lewis Hamilton only needs to finish fifth in Brazil to become world champions, a situation Bernie is desperate to fix.
“The problem with next week’s race is that Hamilton barely has to bother. I’d much rather he and Massa had to race to the finish to decide the title. It’s all about the racing. There’s not enough of it these days, and I want this to change,” he argued.“I’m not criticising Hamilton at all. He’s played it smart, but the reality is he didn’t try to win in Valencia or in Singapore and that’s not right.”
But Bernie, F1’s been like this for many years, and no one has complained. The 2008 season is winding up to a relatively tight conclusion - in previous seasons, we’ve seen drivers take the title before the final grand prix was run, so we don’t know what the little fella is on about.And you say you’re not criticising Hamilton but in your next sentence you have a go at him for not trying to win in Valencia or Singapore. Okay, maybe you’re actually criticising McLaren for telling Lewis to ease off, but why pick on Big Ron Dennis and co.? In the same position, any team would have done the same thing.Bernie wants to replace the current points system with medals for the top-three drivers - in which case, Hamilton and Massa would go into Brazil with five wins each, resulting in a head-to-head race-off.“I don’t think points mean anything,” says Bernie. “I mean, David Coulthard has scored more F1 points than another other British driver, but nobody really knows this because people look at race wins.“I’ve managed to convince everyone that we should do away with the points and award medals instead. Everybody realises it’s the right thing to do.” Hmm, is it? What if a driver has two wins in a season and 18 retirements? Does that mean he is a more deserving champion than the guy who finished third in 12 races?The points system is fine, leave it - and Hamilton - alone.
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16 responses so far
1 Keith Collantine // Oct 27, 2008 at 11:45 am
Actually I think Ecclestone first floated this ‘gold medal’ idea back in the ’80s.
I think you could come up with an unrealistic scenario to poke holes in most proposals. Ecclestone’s medal system would force championship contenders to push for wins at late stages of the season. If that means someone else finishes 11th in the championship because they got a lucky third while the guy behind them racked up a bunch of fourths then so be it.
I think it’s an excellent idea.
2 A Ludlow // Oct 27, 2008 at 11:48 am
Thank you Ollie, isn’t it so ridiculous? Lewis is the one guy who goes for wins most of the time and then gets criticised for that too, and the one time he doesn’t take a risk, he gets criticised. Ecclestone, Mosley, et al, are nasty little fuckers who should stop meddling with F1 and get the fuck out of it completely. Lewis would be justified in thinking he was the victim of institutionalised bullying and racism.
3 Berger // Oct 27, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Its idiotic and wont guarantee end of season excitement.
In fact in Bernies system a driver could already be wdc going into the last race even though one or more other drivers have more points!!!
Lets say this time next year Massa has 5 wins and 85 points, but Kubica, Alonso and Kimi have only 4 wins each and 110,108 and 106 points respectively - Massa would be the champ going into the last round.
(Note: no Hamilton in my scenario.
By this time I assume he will be banned from F1 for life, for one of his many mentally-retarded startline shunts having eventually caused the inevitable multiple fatality pile up which he is almost guaranteed to do unless he learns basic race skills and respect for human life.)
4 jelena // Oct 27, 2008 at 1:39 pm
WELL IF THAT’S THE CASE, BERNIE THE PRICK, THEN THE FIA STEWARDS REALLY SHOULDNT BE DECIDING WHO WINS, RIGHT ?
BERNIE CAN SUCK IT.
I’VE HEARD ABOUT THIS SOME TIME AGO, HE SAID IT FIRST TO CROATIAN TV, BUT COME ON, IT’S THE STUPIDEST IDEA EVER.
5 Ollie Irish // Oct 27, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Keith - surely the points system is about as meritocratic as it gets?
I’ve yet to hear a decent explanation as to why the medal system is better, other than to contrive a close finish. And the last thing F1 needs is a Bernie-inspired contrivance.
6 Keith Collantine // Oct 27, 2008 at 2:33 pm
I don’t think it’s bad, but I think it could be better. Second place worth 80% of a win? Nah.
Actually I think in some situations it wouldn’t even ‘contrive’ a close finish. Schumacher would probably have won the ‘04 title sooner, for example.
I think the ‘gold medal’ system would do the best job of awarding the championship to the driver who deserved it most. Making the championship winner the person who wins the most races is perfectly logical.
7 Ollie Irish // Oct 27, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Points taken, but how much would silver and bronze medals count for? That’s rather unclear.
8 Joker // Oct 27, 2008 at 3:33 pm
A medal system would be ridiculous. But it’s very true that a win has to count more, like it did with the old points system. That of course was changed because of a certain driver who did not make as many mistakes as this year’s title contenders and therefore won some of his championships very early in the season. Now that he’s retired, the winner should simply be awarded 11 or 12 points.
9 Bernard Ecclestones // Oct 27, 2008 at 4:16 pm
“I’m not criticising Hamilton at all.” Then why the headline?
10 Err // Oct 28, 2008 at 1:01 am
The only practical difference between this idea and simply increasing the number of points given to the winner is the inclusion of the word ‘gold’. I guess Bernie must really dig gold.
11 GKN // Oct 28, 2008 at 9:54 am
Winner should be granted more points and points number should be increased later in season. Winning is all that should matter.
Most winns should normally provide WC.
12 WTF // Oct 28, 2008 at 10:19 am
Totally misleading headline >:-(
13 ham-ilton // Oct 28, 2008 at 11:59 am
FUCK YOU ham-ilton as you drive in another team anymore you to the podium was heading !!!
it’s TRUE !!! ham - ilton buahaha
14 Jimbo // Oct 29, 2008 at 1:42 pm
ham-ilton, I’m sure there’s a message in there somewhere. Just not in any language known to man.
I actually think we should award points for anyone that finishes the race. Finishing has got to be better than not finishing. A sliding scale from 80 pts for a win, 50 pts for 2nd, 30 for third, then 19, 18, 17, 16 etc down to 1 point (when we have a full grid).
15 GKN // Oct 29, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Example of a medal system G=15p,S=5p B=1p
Then points before the Brazil race:
Ham. = 88, Massa= 82, Reik. =44
Massa or Ham. can be WC independent of who is in second.
16 GKN // Oct 30, 2008 at 7:57 am
I agree with Jimbo on the point system, however only for the team WC.