Formula One Plans Points for Top Eight

Formula One team bosses voted against some very radical proposals to change the face of Formula One today, but accepted some significant ideas that will be introduced in Grand Prix racing next season.

The proposed driver swapping and the weight penalties ideas have been ruled out, but Formula One officials announced they would award points for the top eight places in Grands Prix compared with six at present to spice up motor racing after a season dominated by Ferrari.

The new system awards 10 points for the winner, while eight, six, five, four, three, two and one to the eighth placed driver.

Team orders, whereby a team decides which of its two drivers will finish ahead of the other, have been prohibited, although it is yet unknown how the FIA plan to avoid their use.

Two qualifying sessions will be introduced, on Friday and Saturday, with one qualifying lap for each car and cars to run one at a time. At present there is one hour of qualifying on a Saturday at Grands Prix.

Tyre suppliers will be allowed to provide custom made tyres for each team. In addition, should three or more teams undertake to run no more than ten days of private testing between March and November, those teams will be allowed two hours to test on the Friday before each Grand Prix, using test drivers and spare cars.