The Medal system established in 2009!

Bernie Ecclestone, the Formula 1 supremo, announced today that he will do everything possible to implement a medal system next year. This system will determine the winner of the World Championship and is expected to be approved at the next FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) council meeting.

The highly controversial medal system to reward Grand Prix-winning drivers should be implemented as early as 2009. This project is dear to Bernie Ecclestone and, even if it doesn’t please everyone, it could be ratified by the FIA at the next World Motor Sport Council meeting in Paris.

« It will be made official », said Ecclestone during a conference in London this Wednesday to announce the partnership between the Korean LG Electronics and F1.

« All the teams are satisfied with it. Why? Because they acknowledge there’s not enough overtaking, and it’s not due to the drivers or the tracks, but because a driver doesn’t need to overtake… »

« If you are leading a Grand Prix and I am second, I will not overtake you to gain two more points in the championship if it means risking making a mistake and losing my eight points! However, if you are fighting to win a gold medal, which determines the world championship winner, then I will do everything to overtake you! »

With this system, the chances for a driver to be crowned will be greater as soon as they achieve a Grand Prix victory. The spectacle and suspense would therefore be heightened.

« This year, we have repeatedly seen Hamilton not pass Massa for these reasons », stated Ecclestone. « If he had driven for me and made a mistake while overtaking, I would have complained! Nevertheless, it’s abnormal to win a championship without winning a race! »

Questions flooded the room after the announcement. When a journalist asked if it was normal for a driver who wins 6 races but retires in the other 9 to be crowned, while another finishes each of them, Ecclestone replied: « The strongest next year will be the one who is crowned! »

Let’s also clarify that with this rule in 2008, Massa, with 6 victories, would have been crowned world champion. Hamilton only having 5 first places to his credit.

This rule also raises the question of the midfield; Teams that cannot fight for the podium will not be able to fight for points… and will have no interest in finishing 8th in a GP when the driver started 15th.