Am I the only one dismayed by the new ruling in Formula 1 that decides the World Champion is the driver with the most wins?
It has been brought in place basically because Lewis Hamilton was able to win the World Championship last year having won one less race than Felipe Massa. The ruling would not have been brought in place had Hamilton not sealed the title in such dramatic fashion – overtaking Toyota’s Timo Glock on the final corner at Interlagos in the final race of the season to claim 5th place, while Massa was celebrating the title he thought was his.
The thing is, next year, Hamilton could finish 2nd in every race and be denied by someone who has won say 6 races, who may well retire from every other race in the season. Does this mean they are the best racer? It means that unreliable cars will come to the fore, and that manufacturers can pick and choose their races. Ferrari will choose the races that most suit their cars to go for broke, and perhaps be more conservative at races where their car does not perhaps suit.
This effectively means that rather get in a battle to move up the field, they can settle for a low points finish, knowing that they cannot win the race, but they can focus on the next race instead. Previously, they would have had to push for the highest possible finish to make sure they get the points for the World Championship push.
But how much difference would it have made in the past five years?
2008
Actual Winner: Lewis Hamilton
Most Wins: Felipe Massa (6), Lewis Hamilton (5), Kimi Raikkonen (3), Fernando Alonso (2), Robert Kubica (1), Sebastian Vettel (1)
Difference?: YES
2007
Actual Winner: Kimi Raikkonen
Most Wins: Kimi Raikkonen (6), Fernando Alonso (4), Lewis Hamilton (4), Felipe Massa (3)
Difference?: NO
2006
Actual Winner: Fernando Alonso
Most Wins: Fernando Alonso (7), Michael Schumacher (7), Felipe Massa (2), Jenson Button (1), Giancarlo Fisichella (1)
Difference?: NO
2005
Actual Winner: Fernando Alonso
Most Wins: Fernando Alonso (7), Kimi Raikkonen (7), Juan Pablo Montoya (3), Giancarlo Fisichella (1), Michael Schumacher (1)
Difference?: NO
2004
Actual Winner: Michael Schumacher
Most Wins: Michael Schumacher (13), Rubens Barrichello (2), Kimi Raikkonen (1), Jarno Trulli (1), Juan Pablo Montoya (1)
Difference?: NO
So only last year would it have made a difference. Seems to me they are trying to fix something that isn’t broken. Why must their be a continuing need for change in Formula 1?
