The phrase "if it ain’t broke don’t try and fix it" springs to mind on hearing the news that Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone is looking to change the sport’s points-scoring system for next season.

After one of the most exciting F1 seasons in history, climaxing with an amazing final race in Brazil which saw Lewis Hamilton collect the fifth place he needed to become the youngest-ever world champion, it is anyone’s guess why a change is needed at all.
 
In years gone by, Grand Prix drivers would collect points according to the position they finished in a race. The higher the position the more points - simple. However, the new medals idea, which Ecclestone is confident of introducing (subject to FIA approval) is an Olympic style gold, silver and bronze medal to those drivers who finish in first, second and third, leaving drivers who finish outside podium places with zilch. Ecclestone believes that this will encourage overtaking, adding to the excitement.

A medals idea sounds good, and there is no doubt that it would create more drama and overtaking, which many believe to be missing from the sport in recent years. But what would be the target for more inferior teams such as Red Bull?

How demoralising would it be for a driver who qualifies eighth place on the grid on a circuit with minimum overtaking opportunities, such as Singapore? Under the current points system drivers have the chance to pick up points for finishing in the top eight, which gives slower cars something to fight for and generates competition for positions between drivers of a similar level down the order. This in itself creates good entertainment during a race.

If a change of this kind has to be made, then surely it should not be in this way. More thinking needs to be done in order for it to be viable. A more suitable option would surely be something combining Ecclestone’s ‘new vision’ and the points-scoring system currently in place.

It requires a type of system that satisfies both entertainment and practicality. An ideal system would be one which sees the top three gaining more points than they do at present with the rest collecting the same as they do now.

Finally, the race winner could perhaps gain more than the two-point advantage over the driver in second place - say five bonus points for winning a Grand Prix outright. A system such as this would benefit drivers who are consistent as well as those who attack and go out to win.

Under Ecclestone’s new idea, a driver could perhaps win the first three Grand Prix then drive awfully, barely finish another race during the season and still win the championship. That would be a travesty for those involved as well as for the fans of this wonderful, but often excessively administered, sport.