F1 to change points system

Formula One teams and decision makers have agreed changes to the points system and tyre rules for this season as well as a ban on controversial "double diffusers" from 2011. The International Automobile Federation (FIA) said in a statement yesterday that the new points system will see the top 10 rewarded in a 25-18-15-12-10-8-6-4-2-1 sequence to encourage what it called "the race to win".

The FIA had said in December that the points would be allocated 25-20-15-10-8-6-5-3-2-1 to reward race winners and encourage overtaking. The Formula One Commission agreed the amendments to the sporting and technical regulations at a meeting on Monday.

The measures will be submitted to the World Motor Sport Council for final approval within 48 hours, although that can usually be taken for granted.

The tyre rules will be modified so that those drivers reaching the third and final phase of qualifying will have to start the race on the same set of tyres with which their grid time was set.

That will introduce another strategic element to races.

"The number of dry weather tyres sets allocated per team has been reduced from 14 to 11," said the FIA.

"In addition, to encourage teams to run during the Friday practice sessions, one set has to be returned before the start of the second practice session, and two sets before the start of the third practice session."

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