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F1 brings in double points season finale, set numbers for drivers

Pastor Maldonado in his Williams FW33 Cosworth in 18th position
Roar Guru
10th December, 2013
8

The FIA has announced that Formula One season finales’ will henceforth be worth double points, while drivers will be able to carry a number of their choice for the duration of their careers.

As part of a bid to keep both championships alive until the final event, a last round victory will now be worth 50 points, second place 36 points, third place 30 points and so on, while a one-two for a team will yield 86 points.

The change was made in conjunction with the F1 Strategy Group – comprising Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes, Lotus and Williams – and the F1 Commission.

Already, the outcome has led to widespread derision from fans on popular sites, notably James Allen on F1, Joe Saward and F1 Fanatic. Many believe the initiative has the potential to deny a driver and team who has performed consistently all season of a deserved title.

Another consensus is that the finale, set for Abu Dhabi in 2014, doesn’t have the worth of a circuit such as Monza, Spa-Francorchamps, Suzuka or Monaco, let alone warrant the idea of double points being awarded.

Whether the anger is enough to overturn the decision, as was the case in 2009 when a proposed medal-based system decided by victories, rather than points, was abandoned, remains to be seen.

The other change announced sees drivers able to choose a number they can carry for the duration of their careers, rather than one based on the previous season’s constructors’ standings.

Drivers can pick any number between 2 and 99, with the #1 reserved for the reigning champion should he or she wish to utilise it.

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This move evokes memories of the 1980s and early 1990s, when Ferrari carried numbers 27 and 28, and Nigel Mansell the infamous red #5.

One can imagine that if Michael Schumacher was still racing, he would go with #7 for a multitude of obvious reasons.

The idea behind this change is that fans can associate their favourites with a number, creating a sentimental attachment, as is currently seen in NASCAR and MotoGP – most notably Valentino Rossi and #46.

Unsurprisingly, this notion has received a lot more warmth than the double points season finale. It will be intriguing to see which number star drivers such as Vettel, Alonso, Hamilton and Räikkönen select, and the symbolism behind it.

The final item on the agenda is a “global cost cap”, which is to be introduced in time for the 2015 season.

The last time a budget cap was mooted in 2009, a breakaway series was threatened by the FOTA (Formula One Teams Association) group outfits, with only the new for 2010 teams – Caterham (Lotus), Marussia (Virgin) and HRT (Hispania) – ultimately sticking to the guidelines.

Interesting times indeed.

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