Hilarity as FIA backs down over “winner takes all” scheme

Earlier in the week I blogged about the various new rules the FIA had brought in for F1, including a new winner takes all system for deciding drivers’ championship that was going to be introduced this year. It was, rightly so, criticised by drivers, teams, fans and pundits both for its flawed nature but also for its introduction so close to the beginning of the season.

Now, however, the FIA has egg on its face as FOTA (the organisation set up by teams to represent their interests) released a statement pointing out the FIA couldn’t introduce these new rules so close to the beginning of the new season.

From the statement:

The amendment to the sporting regulations proposed by the World Motorsport Council was not performed in accordance with the procedure provided for by Appendix 5 of the Sporting Regulations and, as per the provisions of the article 199 of the FIA International Sporting Code, it is too late for FIA to impose a change for the 2009 season that has not obtained the unanimous agreement of all the competitors properly entered into the 2009 Formula 1 Championship.

As a result the FIA has been forced to “delay” the change until next year:

On 17 March, the FIA World Motor Sport Council unanimously rejected FOTA’s proposed amendment to the points system for the Formula One Drivers’ Championship. The ‘winner takes all’ proposal made by the commercial rights holder (who had been told that the teams were in favour) was then approved.

If, for any reason, the Formula One teams do not now agree with the new system, its implementation will be deferred until 2010.

As Keith over at F1 Fanatic (well worth a visit for any F1 fans btw) points out, the implication that the teams agreed to the changes is clearly nonsense since the teams had already submitted what changes they wanted and been shot down.

This leaves the FIA, Bernie and Max Mosley with even less credibility than they had before — an amazing achievement given their track records. As much as this does damage the sport, fundamentally the right result has been reached. It’s just a shame that it took FOTA to stick its neck out to get there. Perhaps this will teach Bernie and Max to avoid being so cute in future.