Double points at season finale just embarrassing - Irvine

Former F1 driver Eddie Irvine has issued a stinging assessment of F1's controversial new 'double points' rule for the 2014 finale. Regularly critical of the sport's adoption of gimmicky innovations, such as the overtaking aid DRS, former Ferrari and Jaguar driver Irvine said the rulemakers have gone a step too far with the decision to keep the championship alive by offering double points at the last race of next season in Abu Dhabi.

"That actually made me realise I am not going to watch another race until that rule gets kicked out," he told the Belfast Telegraph. "That is just embarrassing. It really is. They should be ashamed of themselves. It's ridiculous, I've never heard such a joke in all my life. Talk about tinsel town bullsh*t," Irvine added.

48-year-old Irvine, who last raced in F1 in 2002 and now makes his money on the Miami property market, also said he thinks Sebastian Vettel's four consecutive world championships do not quite stack up against his former Ferrari teammate Michael Schumacher's achievements.

"Vettel's record is amazing," he said, "though he has kept the best car pretty much every year which Michael didn't have. He (Schumacher) struggled (at Ferrari) for four years before he won another championship. Vettel just staying at Red Bull winning trophies is boring," added Irvine. "I don't see what he's trying to prove. Okay, he's going to collect a lot of championships, but you know what, who cares?"

Irvine is also critical of Lewis Hamilton, accusing him of trading performance for his desire to "be a movie star or a rapper or something". He said he does not keep in touch with any of today's F1 figures, but sometimes hears from Kimi Raikkonen. "Kimi Raikkonen rings me the odd time when he's drunk!" Irvine laughed. (GMM)

Replies (0)

Login to reply

AZ Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

AZAzerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

Test calendar

See full test schedule

World Championship standings 2026

Show full world champion standings

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Spain
-
Bahrain
-
Bahrain
6 - Mar 8
Australia
13 - Mar 15
China
27 - Mar 29
Japan
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
1 - May 3
United States of America
22 - May 24
Canada
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
12 - Jun 14
Spain
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
10 - Apr 12
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
5 - Jun 7
Monaco Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Ferrari
  • Points 3,566
  • Podiums 133
  • Grand Prix 234
  • Country GB
  • Date of b. Jan 7 1985 (41)
  • Place of b. Tewin, GB
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.74 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar