Give the man a medal.

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Bernie Ecclestone has announced his intentions to introduce a new scoring system into Formula 1 motor-racing. In response to critics (me included) who say that modern safety regulations, dull circuit configurations and restrictions on car designs have led to "processions" instead of races.

In response, Ecclestone wants to introduce a medals system to encourage drivers to attempt overtaking manoeuvres:

"If you're in the lead and I'm second, I'm not going to take the risk of falling off the circuit or doing something stupid to get two points. If I need a gold medal to win the championship, I will overtake. It's just not on that someone can win the championship without winning a race."

Bernie Ecclestone.

What he fails to realise is that rather than encouraging everyone to try and claim first place, it will create an unworkable league in which the top five or six drivers will be the only ones able to compete for the championship. After a few races, this number could be down to just two; if the same driver wins every race from the start, the entire second-half of the season will be meaningless.

At a time when F1 is losing teams and drivers (the credit crunch means lesser teams simply can't afford to compete... and if you've got no chance of winning, why bother?) this move appears all the more ludicrous.

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