FIA: No unanimity against the “unfair” double points
Four months after its announcement, the issue of double points during the last Grand Prix of the season is still a topic of debate, even though their retention for 2014 seems assured.
The debate on the spectacle and the general philosophy of regulations is calming down somewhat – following the spectacular Bahrain Grand Prix – and since Formula 1 abhors a vacuum, the question of doubling points resurfaces. As a reminder, in December, the FIA announced a series of changes, including the introduction of doubled points during the last Grand Prix of the season. This final race will be in Abu Dhabi.
However, as soon as the press release explaining these changes was published, the reactions were strong. First from fans and observers, then from players in the top category: Sebastian Vettel considered this measure absurd, Luca di Montezemolo did not hide his doubts, and more recently, Mika Hakkinen, double world champion in 1998 and 1999, said that this rule could be catastrophic.
Todt: “We will see at the end of the season”
Asked about this issue, Jean Todt, president of the FIA, admits he did not expect such an outcry against this measure: Personally, I was surprised that there was so much emotion for what I did not feel was a significant change in F1. But, once again, we must listen to this and I hope we will take it into consideration.
However, changing such a rule is not easy: « To reconsider this, we need unanimous agreement, [otherwise] we cannot change. We had a strategic meeting, and I said, “Do you want to review this?” The answer was no. Don’t ask me who said yes or no. Then I said, “OK, we will see at the end of the season what the reaction will be. » he stated to Autosport.
Lauda denounces the “luck” of the last race
Niki Lauda, the non-executive director of Mercedes, does not hesitate to challenge this decision once again: « I think it’s really a bad decision because it brings an element of chance to the last race, which nobody wants and everybody mocks. »
He then refers to Bernie Ecclestone’s desire for the number of races where points are doubled to be increased to three, which was rejected: « There was a time when they talked about three races, thank God it’s only one. »
« I think it’s wrong, but it’s something we have to deal with. It was a mistake to introduce it, but I hope that next year it will be gone, » he says, while defending himself against advocating the withdrawal of this measure due to his ties with Mercedes, which currently dominates the start of the season /f1/actualite/17153-hakkinen-evoque-le-son-des-v6-les-points-doubles-red-bull-et-schumacher.html: « I’m not saying this just because I’m with Mercedes, but because I’m a fan and I’m a racing driver. If I think that during my last race I get a flat tire and the other idiot who hasn’t won anything passes me… Have we lost our minds? »
“Probably unfair” for Ecclestone
Finally, Bernie Ecclestone, the president of Formula One Management, a key proponent of introducing such a rule, admitted to Sky Sports that it could have an unfair aspect while estimating that it might eventually preserve the suspense: « I wouldn’t have suggested it if I thought it wasn’t the right thing to do. I was concerned that the championship might still be — perhaps — open with two or three races to go, and that someone could then make a comeback. It’s probably unfair that someone does all the work from the start and scores a lot of points and then someone else comes in and wins over a few races. »
