Bernie Ecclestone is unhappy with the way the Formula One drivers' title was settled, and he says awarding gold medals to race winners is a way to create more drama.
The suggestion by the Formula One boss comes after Lewis Hamilton clinched this year's title by finishing fifth at the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix. Ecclestone said Wednesday he does not like the idea that “someone can win the world championship without trying to win the race.”
Under the proposed system, which Ecclestone said should be approved by the sport's governing body next month, the driver with the most gold medals during a season would win the title. In that format, Felipe Massa would have won the title this year because he beat Hamilton 6-5 in race wins.
“It's going to happen,” Ecclestone said. “All the teams are happy. The reason this happens is that I get fed up with people talking about no overtaking.”
In the current system, the winner of each Grand Prix race earns 10 points in the championship standings, with second place worth eight points and third place worth six. Each of the top eight drivers in every race earns points.
Ecclestone was asked if it didn't seem unfair under his system that someone could finish second in every race during the season and lose the title to a rival who got lucky and won a single GP.
“You'll have to try harder next year,” he said.
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-- The Associated Press
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