International publications have described the highly controversial decision to award double-points in the 2014 season finale as "strange" (Bild) and "crazy" (La Gazzetta dello Sport). And Reuters correspondent Alan Baldwin said F1 fans expressed "dismay and anger on social media", while former driver Taki Inoue described the change as "something like a Nintendo Mario game. No mushroom?" the Japanese added on Twitter.
The reaction followed a Paris meeting on Monday of the strategy group and F1 Commission, with the rule change "immediately applicable" because of the "mandate" given to FIA president Jean Todt at the recent World Motor Sport Council meeting. The FIA said in the statement: "Double drivers' and constructors' points will be awarded at the final race of the formula one season in order to maximise focus on the championship until the end of the campaign."
The move is obviously a reaction to the 2013 season, which was utterly dominated by Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel, with the title decided long before the Brazil finale. In 2014, the season finale will be Abu Dhabi, an often processional race that is nonetheless now worth double the points of classics like Monaco and Spa.
Writing in the Daily Mail, correspondent Jonathan McEvoy said F1's decision-makers have "undermined the sport with a gimmick that should have been filed away with sprinklers and reversed grids in the file of batty ideas". France's L'Equipe points out that, if the system had already been in place, Felipe Massa (not Lewis Hamilton) would be the 2008 champion, and Fernando Alonso would have beaten Sebastian Vettel to the 2012 crown.
"Why should a single race be worth more?" the Brazilian correspondent for Globo, Rafael Lopes, said. "It's a very artificial way to keep the championship alive until the last grand prix. Why should an average driver with an unreliable car have the same chance just because of the scoring system? And that's not to mention that Abu Dhabi, to date, has hosted almost no good races on a pretty boring track," he added. (GMM)
FIA to award double points for F1 season finale
- Published on 10 Dec 2013 08:26
-
0
- By: Rob Veenstra
.
Trending news
-
Waché admits Red Bull still not at desired level despite recoveryRed Bull technical director Pierre Waché has acknowledged clear progress with the RB22, but insists the team i...
14 Aug 2026 16:04 -
Cadillac appoints Marcin Budkowski as new team boss with Ferrari pedigreeCadillac has appointed Marcin Budkowski as its new team principal, bringing in a senior figure who witnessed Ferrari&...
14 Aug 2026 15:06 -
Montoya sees Newey's influence taking shape at Aston MartinJuan Pablo Montoya expects Aston Martin to take a significant step forward after the summer break, crediting Adrian N...
14 Aug 2026 14:09 -
Hamilton Echoes Verstappen Criticism of F1 OvertakingLewis Hamilton has become the latest high-profile voice to question the quality of overtaking in the current Formula ...
14 Aug 2026 13:08 -
George Russell reveals sports psychologist has been key to Mercedes performance since 2020George Russell has confirmed he has worked with the same sports psychologist since 2020, using mental coaching not as...
14 Aug 2026 12:14
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Local time
-
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Local time
-
Friday
-
Saturday
-
Sunday
-
Friday
-
Saturday
-
Sunday
Test calendar
Circuit de Catalunya - Winter testing
-
Jan 26
I. Hadjar
- 1:18.159
-
-
-
Jan 27
M. Verstappen
- 1:19.578
-
-
-
Jan 28
A. Antonelli
- 1:17.362
-
-
-
Jan 29
G. Russell
- 1:16.445
-
-
-
Jan 30
L. Hamilton
- 1:16.348
-
-
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
-
Feb 11
L. Norris
- 1:34.669
-
-
-
Feb 12
C. Leclerc
- 1:34.273
-
-
-
Feb 13
A. Antonelli
- 1:33.669
-
-
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
-
Feb 18
G. Russell
- 1:33.459
-
-
Feb 19
A. Antonelli
- 1:32.803
-
-
Feb 20
C. Leclerc
- 1:31.992
-
-
World Championship standings 2026
Pos
Driver
Team
Points
Pos
Team
Points
Related news
Give your opinion!
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Spain
-
Bahrain
-
Bahrain
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
-
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
-
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia
Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
26 - Jun 28
Austria
Red Bull Ring
3 - Jul 5
United Kingdom
Silverstone
17 - Jul 19
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
24 - Jul 26
Hungary
Hungaroring
21 - Aug 23
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
Driver profile
- Team Aston Martin
- Points 629
- Podiums 9
- Grand Prix 203
- Country ES
- Date of b. Jul 29 1981 (45)
- Place of b. Oviedo, ES
- Weight 68 kg
- Length 1.71 m
- 188,013 comments on Aston Martin
78 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Fernando Alonso
Replies (0)
Login to reply