Formula 1: World Championship points, start numbers and tires

Ferrari , Mercedes GP , McLaren , Clean , Toro Rosso , Renault and W illiams go on February 1st with their new cars on the track for the first time. But their team bosses are sitting in Paris on the same day and are setting the course for the 2010 season as part of the Formula 1 Commission. Three important questions are still open: the points system, the starting numbers and the number of tires per driver.

New F1 point system with no impact

The points system proposed by the FIA ​​met with little approval from the team bosses after much thought. Only USF1 cheered about the increased format: 25-20-15-10-8-6-5-3-2-1. 'There is actually no reason to change the existing system,' says McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh. 'This means that there will be no additional overtaking maneuvers. Good racing drivers overtake when the opportunity arises. They do not need an incentive such as more points.'

The argument that more teams require an increase in the number of points does not work either . Peter Sauber might be proficient, but even he emphasizes: 'Points have to be worth something.' In addition to a return to the old point system, a variant with a different gradation is also being discussed. The 25-18-15-12-10-8-6-4-2-1 mode would reward the winner more.

Which starting numbers will Sauber get?

With the start numbers, everything depends on how Clean is classified. If the Swiss are officially classified as the successor team to BMW, then they actually own the start numbers 9 and 10, because BMW-Sauber took sixth place in 2009Constructors Cup. Behind Toyota, but ahead of Williams. If the FIA ​​followed this logic, all other teams would have to be pushed back by two start numbers.

On February 1, the fate of the Campos-Meta teams decide. No financial security, no license. Stefan GP is already in the starting blocks with the Toyota legacy, but would then be the last newcomer to get the highest starting numbers. So 26 and 27.

Bridgestone wants to deliver fewer tires

There are three suggestions for the number of tires per driver. Either you stick to 14 sentences for Friday to Sunday, or you follow the request of Bridgestone, who brought up a reduction to ten sentences per driver for cost reasons.

The teams are now offering a compromise. Eleven sets of tires, six of the hard compound, five of the soft compound. Then three sets would have to be returned on Friday. In order for cars to take to the track in the morning, one of the two sentences with a hard mix would have to be delivered after the first session. One set each, hard and soft, would then be available for the afternoon. From Saturday, each driver would have 32 tires, evenly distributed over both compounds.

Top ten will start on qualifying tires

Another idea will be in formula 1 circles since this week. The top ten on the grid have to start with the tires on which they achieved their fastest training time. The rest can freely choose the tire set within their contingent. This means that the participants from eleventh place onwards would have a tire advantage, at least in the initial phase, as one can assume that they will save at least one fresh set for the race.