Valencia (Spain), Feb. 2: Formula One is set to formalise new regulations for the expanded 13-team championship to include a points system that would reward the top 10 drivers while handing race winners 25 points.
Second-place drivers wo-uld earn 18 points, followed by 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 and 1 point, the sport’s governing body FIA said on Tuesday. Since 1993, it went 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1.
"It’s a good decision to change this points system," Toro Rosso team principal Franz Tost said.
"The reason for it is we are pushing for more overtaking maneuvers. We just hope this will be the case."
FIA is also proposing to have the top-10 race qualifiers start on their qualifying tires, while the rest of the field could use new tires. F1 will also reduce the number of dry weather tires available to teams to "encourage teams to run during the Friday practice sessions." "We’re not 100 per cent sure on this yet," Tost said of having to race on the tires used in qualifying, although he did believe this would make races more interesting.
Measures to exclude the contentious double diffuser — a rear wing design that creates more downforce —from 2011 were also agreed.
Teams protested against Brawn GP, Toyota and Williams last year over their interpretation of the diffuser rule after the design helped eventual constructors’ champion Brawn pull away from the pack.
However, the double diffuser was later cleared for use. The proposals will be submitted to the World Motor Sport Council for approval within 48 hours, FIA said. — AP