Official - FIA Abandon Medal System for 2009

The controversial “winner takes all” system decided upon by the members of the World Motor Sport Council last week was officially scrapped off the 2009 Formula 1 rule book. The FIA had issued a quick statement this weekend, saying that it would agree to postpone the title-awarding system until 2010 should all the F1 teams require such a move.

The revised system stated that the driver winning the most races in 2009 would automatically become world champion, no matter the points scored throughout this season's events. However, shortly after announcing the new rule, the Formula One Teams Association officially questioned the validity of the move, as the new system did not benefit from the full support of all teams.

Earlier today, when announcing the final point regulations for the upcoming season, the FIA officially axed the “medal system” from the document. Instead, the old system will continue to function in 2009, based on points rather than wins.

“The Sporting Regulations provide that if two or more constructors or drivers have the same number of points (including 0 points), their positions in the Championship are fixed according to the quality of their places. Under this system one first place is better than any number of second places, one second place is better than any number of third places, and so on,” said the FIA statement.

Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone – the very man who lobbied continuously for the introduction of a medal system in the sport – insisted that the “winner takes all” format will make its way into Formula One in 2010, one way or another.

“It will be (introduced) next year. It will be supported by the FIA and it will be in the regulations. So when people enter the championship, that's what the regulation will be,” said the 78-year old Englishman in an interview for BBC Radio 5 Live.