The Champions

Sir,

I was fascinated by W.B.’s article in the May edition about -The Champions-, and would like to offer my own thoughts on the subject The flaw in the proposed method is that it does not allow for the increasing number of races per season. One way to allow tor this would be to take the total number of points scored divided by the number of races in the season. However, such a system would still have Jim Clark as current champion with his 1963 score of 73 from 10 races, an average of 7.3 per race, which has not been approached since.

Whilst this highlights Clark’s wonderful achievement, it gives no impression of events since then. I have often thought that the championship should only be awarded to a driver who scores more points than anyone else AND wins more races than anyone else.

Under such a system, no title would have been awarded in 1950, 58, 59, 61. 64. 67, 68, 74, 77, 79. and 81-84. The table of champions would be led by Fangio (5). Stewart (3), and Ascari, Brabharn and Clark (2 each). In recent years the title would only have been won by Andretti (1978), Jones (1980) and Frost (1985). In this way, the title would be an even more respected one. and would not be won by a driver who mereley accumulated points throughout the season.

In order to stop drivers accumulating points rather than driving to win races, it has been suggested that the champion should be the driver who wins most races. In my view, this is too simplistic and would result in some unworthy champions. Andretti would have won the 1977 championship by winning 4 races although he scored 25 points less than Lauda.

An obvious drawback in the retrospective application of such a system is the drivers would have driven differently if the system had been in operation. For example, Piquet would surely have won the 1983 South African G.P. if it had been the only way to secure the title.

I have yet to devise a completely fair system which awards the championship to drivers who deserves if Such a system would give 1978 to Peterson and 1979 to Villeneuve, but that is another story!

 MICHAEL LLYWELYN-JONES Wantage, Oxon