Eddie Jordan doesn’t want Ecclestone’s medals!
The former director of the eponymous team, Eddie Jordan, expressed strong reservations about Bernie Ecclestone’s new idea for determining the World Champion: a medal system. This would then replace the current point system, at least for the driver’s championship. The Briton admitted finding no interest in this solution for the back-of-the-grid teams as well as […]
The former director of the eponymous team, Eddie Jordan, expressed strong reservations about Bernie Ecclestone’s new idea for determining the World Champion: a medal system. This would then replace the current point system, at least for the driver’s championship.
The Briton admitted finding no interest in this solution for the back-of-the-grid teams as well as for the public. “It’s totally absurd,” he stated Wednesday on BBC Five radio.
Currently, the only variable that F1 must change is the costs. We need to focus on reducing costs and not on anything else! The current points system is necessary. I know what I’m talking about, I was the head of a team and attended the meetings to set up a points system extending up to the 8th position.
« For a normal team, having a point in a Grand Prix is equivalent to a victory for Ferrari or McLaren! We must not forget that… and I think someone like Massa, who often fought for points before fighting for victories, knows what I’m talking about. »
According to Jordan, the financial aspect is also to be considered, at a time when making as much savings as possible becomes a priority. Scoring a point for a team was not only synonymous with a better ranking but especially with a bonus at the end of the season: « A team like McLaren or Ferrari has budgets exceeding 250 million euros. For Force India or Toro Rosso, it’s a sum eight times lower. So when they score points or even win a victory, like this year, it’s vital. »
Eddie Jordan also doubts the legitimacy of this rule change. The teams are far from agreeing with Ecclestone according to the Englishman: « Ecclestone and Mosley should consult the teams and take their opinions into account, because I would be surprised if they all support this system! »
Let us clarify, as mentioned in a previous article, that the medal system should (!) be ratified according to Ecclestone at the next FIA (International Automobile Federation) council in Paris. Rumors are still rife on this matter, and many see this Ecclestonian project as a media stunt to keep F1 in the conversation even in winter…
