Less than 48 hours on, the response to the introduction of double points at the Formula One season finale has been overwhelmingly negative.
The notion one event is worth two times that of every other on the calendar is one which doesn’t sit well with fans, and more specifically the purists (yours truly included).
That Abu Dhabi is the venue in question renders said rule even more laughable, as well as a host of other adjectives best left unsaid.
It raises the question whether promoters of the Yas Marina Circuit applied pressure to place the event at the foot of the calendar, coupled with the added ‘incentive’ of double points.
A £10 million increase in hosting fees to sweeten the deal would be of little surprise.
2012 aside, the event has hardly piqued the curiosity, let alone the attention of fans – what better way to rectify this than push for their race to be worth twice as much?
Alohamora, we now face the prospect of a finale which could see Lewis Hamilton leading the standings’ by 32 points, only to retire, with Sebastian Vettel finishing second, thus retaining the title he won this year, and the year before that, and the year before that, and the one before that…
Had the finale remained at Interlagos, which has provided the backdrop to many a classic finale in recent years, it would have been palatable to a degree, hardly anything more.
This aside, the idea that Monaco, Silverstone, Spa-Francorchamps, Monza and Suzuka presently stand to be worth half as much as a circuit which marked its inception to the calendar only five years ago is representive of the path Formula One has been headed down for some time.
It is the aforementioned events which are worthy of double points, while this won’t happen, financial incentives which don’t affect the standings should be placed on these.
A ‘Grand Slam’ concept would have a place, and if we’re speaking honestly, it’s long overdue.
A case could be argued for going in the opposite direction, with a premium placed on points by re-implementing the classic 10-8-6-3-2-1 system, last seen in 2002.
The current system was introduced so the ‘new’ outfits as of 2010 – Lotus, Virgin and Hispania – could pick up the odd point.
Yet in four seasons, this hasn’t happened. One of these teams isn’t on the grid anymore, while the others have hardly looked like points contenders at any stage.
18 events comprise the 2014 calendar prior to the finale, you’d sooner see a driver or an outfit in contention for the title perform well at each of these, rather than bank on hanging in there until the last race and depending on a Mickey Mouse advent which will no doubt be crucified should it serve the intended purpose.
The sensible option would see the V6 turbo era granted a season to take its course, then to re-evaluate, if this, arguably the biggest shake-up for the category since 1998, makes a negligible or a profound difference.
Then to act…
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