FIA prepared to defer new system

Formula One's governing body said yesterday it was prepared to defer to 2010 a controversial new system awarding the drivers' championship to whoever wins most races.

"If, for any reason, the Formula One teams do not now agree with the new system, its implementation will be deferred until 2010," the International Automobile Federation (FIA) said in a statement.

The Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA) had earlier accused the FIA of acting outside the rules when it decided to change the points scoring system at a meeting in Paris on Tuesday.

FOTA added that the teams had "unanimously agreed to question the validity of this decision".

"It is too late for FIA to impose a change for the 2009 season that has not obtained the unanimous agreement of all the competitors properly entered into the 2009 Formula One Championship," the statement added.

FOTA had proposed changing the scoring structure to a 12-9-7-5-4-3-2-1 points format from the existing 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 but the FIA's world motor sport council rejected that.

The FIA said the `winner takes all' proposal, which was subsequently approved, had been put forward by commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone after he told the sport's governing body the teams were in favour of it.

FOTA said teams were prepared to work with the FIA to devise a new system for the 2010 season.

The rule change received a mixed reaction when it was announced. World champion Lewis Hamilton said he had doubts about the new system.

"I think it's a shame what's happening to Formula One," said the 24-year-old Briton in a statement.

"It's hard to believe that these recent decisions will improve things for the trackside spectators and TV viewers, who should always be our number one priority, but I guess we'll have to wait and see."

Hamilton's comments echoed those of retired seven times world champion Michael Schumacher who said on his website that he was astonished by the FIA's action.

"I cannot imagine those changes helping F1, especially the new system to find the champion," added the German.