New Points System Here to Stay, Says Mosley

Formula One's new points system is here to stay and rallying and other FIA-sanctioned championships could soon adopt it as well, says International Automobile Federation president Max Mosley.

He told Autosport magazine today that the new system, allocating points to the top eight finishers in a 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 sequence instead of just the top six, was 'very likely' to spread to other series.

"There's a move to extend this to the WRC (World Rally Championship), and it looks very much as though this new system may become firmly established throughout the FIA championships," said Mosley.

"If that happens, there will be resistance to going back."

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has criticised the change in the points structure, agreed by the FIA's Formula One commission last month, saying it did not encourage drivers to go all out for victory.

"These rules are a mistake," said di Montezemolo. "The difference between 10 and eight points is too small and it won't be long before they realise it's wrong."

The points system was changed as part of measures to improve Formula One's appeal to the public and to prevent one driver from running away with the Championship.

Ferrari's Michael Schumacher won this year's drivers' title with six rounds to spare. Had the new system been in place, it would have delayed his title by one race.

The old system, which rewarded a race winner with four points more than the second placed finisher, was designed to make it harder for a driver to take the title without winning a Grand Prix.