FIA: towards a points-based license from 2014?

During a very productive meeting on Wednesday – during which the issue of in-season testing was also addressed – Formula 1 teams discussed a project that has been ongoing for several months, particularly following various incidents during the 2012 season: that of a sort of points-based license.

This project, submitted to a vote by the teams during this meeting, received majority support as seven out of eleven teams were in favor (Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes, Sauber, Force India, Caterham, and Marussia). On their part, Red Bull, Lotus, Williams, and Toro Rosso chose to vote against.

The favorable vote by the teams does not mean that this system will certainly be implemented, but only that it will be submitted to the FIA World Council for a decision to be made regarding its integration into the 2014 version of the sporting regulations. This meeting will take place next month, according to YallaF1.com.

While the details still need to be worked out, such as whether the establishment of such a system would replace or complement the current system (grid penalties, etc.), the overall philosophy of this license is known: it would be, no more, no less, a 12-point infraction credit system, similar to what most European drivers are familiar with.

Thus, each driver would start with a total of 12 points, which would be reduced after each of their rule violations, according to a known scale. If a driver fell to zero points, they would automatically be sanctioned with a ban for the race following the most recent infraction. In this scenario, the driver would then regain their 12 points. In other cases, the points after each infraction would be reinstated one year to the day after the offense was committed.

Regarding the scale itself, according to the first leaks, the biggest possible sanction would simply be a ban decided by the Grand Prix commissioners (opposing the automatic ban if the driver loses their 12 points) which would be penalized with 5 penalty points. A 3-point deduction would sanction exceeding the speed limit in the pits by more than 20 km/h, ignoring a black flag, or a collision deemed dangerous. Then come the 2-point infractions – among them a false start, dangerously blocking another driver, a non-dangerous collision, or ignoring a mandatory weigh-in during qualifying – and the 1-point infractions – such as overtaking under safety car, forcing another driver off the track, or crossing the white line at the pit exit.

Jules Bianchi, questioned on this issue during his press briefing, was rather unfavorable to such a system, as he mentioned to our special correspondent, Clément Sellier: « It’s certainly a good idea, but for the [speed] limit in the pits, a fine is fine; if you can lose points [on the license], it’s very important, you risk not being able to race in a Grand Prix because you went 10 km/h too fast in the pits, it’s a bit exaggerated. It’s a good idea for sanctions that can occur during the race, if ever we make an unsporting overtake or push someone out, I agree, I’m completely for it, but for the rest, no.