Welcome to the Formula One Times, 26th November edition.
With news a little thin on the ground, the F1 Times will not be published daily, as you may have noticed. Instead it will be published on busy news days such as today.
Bernie says Medals will be used in 2009!
Bernie Eccelstone has confirmed that his new medals system which awards Gold for a win, Silver for second and Bronze for third will be used next season. Bernie said "it's going to happen."
This has been chosen as the new system due to an unsatisfactory results in 2008. Is this because Lewis won instead of Massa? Well Bernie says its because drivers are scared to overtake for two extra points, but if its a medal at stake they have more to gain.
Lets hear your views on this new system, do you like it? or loathe it?
Red Bull now in full control of Toro Rosso
Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz has bought back the 50% of Toro Rosso which was owned by Gerhard Berger. This now means Mateschitz owns two teams outright.
The deal will be seen before the competition authorities before the final sign off, but is expected to go through.
Rumours last year were that Berger wanted to sell his share, and get out off F1, after Vettel's first win, a few people thought he'd change his mind. However, it looks as though he hadn't.
Toyota reveal TF109 launch date
Toyota are to hold a small revealing show in Portugal on January 15th to show-off the new Toyota TF109.
Committed to cutting costs, the regular glitzy show, which costs millions to stage will be replaced with a more mundane show.
Testing will begin for the TF109 on January 20th for three consecutive days.
Jordan: "Medals system is nonsense"
Eddie Jordan has blasted Bernie Ecclestone's new medals system which sees only the top three drivers awarded anything at a race weekend.
Eddie believes that the system will push lower teams out of F1 because they strive to score a few points in a race. "two points against no points is a huge difference," said Jordan.
Teams like Force India set goals to achieve a few points in a season, and this is a visually measurable marker, however the new system means they won't get anything for even a fourth place finish.
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about 1 month ago
I would love it if Ferrari completely fall through the floor with their new car and do not score at all. The FIA would get rid of the medals immediately, amazing how when Ferrari do not get their way, they then decide to disadvantage every other driver and team.
Disgraceful.
from about 1 month ago
Yea i agree a little, I don't think it is an outright plan to ruin Hamilton's chances, but I do think its at the back of Bernie's mind.
I would love to see Ferrari as a mid-fielder either they'd quit the sport, or demand changes. We shall see in March.
P.S. I kinda stole the idea behind the ROC banner from the ROC themselves, but with some changes to make it look slightly different. I have some idea's for the special editions of F1 times ROC, I will discuss with you over hotmail.
about 1 month ago
i think hamilton fans should be happy that mdeal system is in place. it suits hamilton's attitude and strikes right at his strengths. i remember what hamiltonians said about hamilton pushing hard for the victory in 2008 spa so i don't think they will think it's a campaign against hamilton with the same mind. besides all early indcations are that mclaren will have the strongest car next year on and that ferrari is in doldrums so i think this is a plot to make hamilton wipe schumacher from the record books.
from about 1 month ago
Haha, maybe Isuru.
I don't think its a way of disadvantaging anyone, I just think, after such a successful season, Bernie is changing way too much, and could literally ruin the sport.
Thanks for the comment!
about 1 month ago
I can see the merit in Bernie's medal system for the top teams and his wish to see more overtaking. Perhaps he should have thought about 'overtaking' before all those new circuits were given the green light - few of them allow overtaking, whether the drivers are going for a gold medal or not. Hopefully, the new cars will be better designed with overtaking in mind, but I just see a lot of front wings 'flying'!! And, has already been said, there's no incentive now for the lower fielders.
A question, Michael. Why blame Ferrari for Bernie's decision?
F1 Times Team - Ferrari went without a WDC for 21 years before Michael Schumacher changed things, so they have had their fair share of 'waiting in the wings' and being amongst the mid-fielders.
from about 1 month ago
The F1 Times tries to be as fair and unbias as possible in its articles.
The comment above should have been posted under the writer's personal account, my mistake.
from about 1 month ago
This is better...now i'm on my own account.
I am personally a Mclaren fan, so I automatically have a minor despise for Ferrari, and to see them in the mid-field would be 'different' as they have almost always been on top. I however would miss the Ferrari/Mclaren battles, and after thinking about my comment, would prefer if they continued to be a frontrunner, because competition is what makes F1 exciting, and for a team to run away with the WDC, without a fight, would make life boring, i.e. Ferrari in the Schumi era.
I personally don't blame Ferrari for Bernie's decision, but I can see why the link has been made. Bernie is changing the points system for a medals system, which would have seen Massa win if it were changed at the beginning of 2008. This might be a coincidence, but it almost seems that Bernie is changing the rules to try and favour Ferrari drivers. I don't think this is his plan, but I see the reasoning behind it.
Thanks for the comment Yvonne, your input is appreciated as always.
about 1 month ago
Ryan, is this still Bernie pushing rather than the FIA saying yes? It's still up to them.
from about 1 month ago
Well it is still Bernie saying yes, but he said he expects the FIA to pass the new system before 2009.
When does the FIA never do what Bernie says?
from about 1 month ago
Yeah, but what happens if they don't do as Bernie wants?
about 1 month ago
I love the ROC banner guys, and about Red Bull's full control of Toro Rosso--it is interesting that RBR is the first team to have a fully owned second team on the grid---money indeed talks--wish it could buy them at least a second place finish in Constructors
about 1 month ago
What on earth. If Bernie wants to encourage winning they could just revert to the old points system. The medals idea is too cheesy.
about 1 month ago
Maybe they should just skew the points system so that a driver will get more points for a win say for example 15 and the remaining top 7 places stay at the same level. ie 15 for first place, 8 for second place etc.
Or some level that will make it more of an incentive to finish first, rather than stay safe in second without taking any risks. Its the F1 equivalent of 3 points for a win in soccer
about 1 month ago
If you want to see more points for overtaking, why can't drivers be awarded for a clean pass?(pitting and drivers spinning out or crashing does not count)
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