BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – Formula One should revert to its old points scoring system to help the teams cope with the crisis created by COVID-19.
That is the opinion of McLaren CEO Zak Brown.
Since 1991 the results the drivers score in every race during the season count towards the drivers’ world championship. But from 1950, the first year of the F-1 world championship, until 1990 the drivers would only count their points from some of the races.
In 1950, for example, drivers counted points from four of the season’s seven races. In 1973, it was 13 out of 15 races. In 1986, it was 11 out of 17 races. The system was also used from 1950 to 1978 for the teams in the constructors’ world championship.
Brown says that if the teams and drivers did not have to count the points from every single race in 2020, then that would be fairer to the small teams.
“Given where we are right now, we need to make some sacrifices,” the Californian told Sky Sports. “Speaking for McLaren, if we were not able to race, I would do exactly what I did in Australia and withdraw the team because you’ve got to put the safety of your people first.”
McLaren withdrew from the Australian Grand Prix on the Thursday of the weekend after one of its crew members was diagnosed with the coronavirus. Then, on the Friday morning, the FIA and the organizers decided to cancel the entire race weekend.
“But if ultimately Formula One and the teams felt comfortable that the issue that we had was contained to just our garage and they felt it was safe to go racing I would not stand in the way,” Brown said. “It would be unfortunate, but maybe we could have a discussion with Formula 1 where (like) back in the good old days, you could drop a couple of races.
“Let’s say we get back to 15 races, maybe we do something where your best 13 races counted. If you had something like that, we’re not holding back the sport but we’re also not being penalized.”
The regulations state that there must be at least 14 cars to make a grand prix an official world championship race. So, given that there are 20 cars, no more than three teams could skip a race.