A race to qualify

Sir,

Now that the Formula 1 season is at an end, and with the prospect of more teams being on the grid next year, the question of points is perhaps something that needs to be revisited.

Last year, of course, Bernie Ecclestone came up with his medals system, but that only rewards the first three drivers and, with up to 26 cars on the grid in 2010, it leaves little for the majority to aim for.

My suggestion is that points be awarded on the same system as for MotoGP – 25 for a win down to one point for 15th place. This gives the lower-scoring teams something more realistic to aim for, and the system certainly seems to work in both MotoGP and Superbikes.

On another point, while the current qualifying system is exciting, I suggest it should be replaced by a race of approximately 30 to 40 per cent of the distance of the Grand Prix in question, the finishing order being the grid for the GP. At the following round the grid order for the qualifying race would be the finishing order from the previous GP. At the first race of the season the grid for qualifying could be decided by ballot.

Andrew Martin, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire

Your points idea was prescient, Andrew (see p12). We’re not too convinced by your qualifying format, though – Ed